Six people will appear at crown court in connection with a string of vehicle thefts across Kent.

Alfie Powell, 37, of Button Street, Swanley, was among those arrested in the early hours of last Wednesday morning and subsequently charged with conspiracy to steal motor vehicles between February 23 and August 14 of this year.

The thefts mainly involved transit vans, which were then reportedly stripped of their parts.

Also charged with the same offence are Sylvester Chambers, 54, and Denise Prior, 53, both of Bird in Hand Lane, Bromley, Roger Powell, 34, of Meadow Lane, Runwell, Wickford, Essex, Jay Osborne, 35, of Parkside Avenue, Bexleyheath, and George Powell, 40, of London Road, Farningham.

All were remanded in custody to appear at Medway Magistrates’ Court last Thursday and have remanded in custody to appear at Maidstone Crown Court on October 20.

A 29-year-old man from Farningham was also arrested in connection with the theft of motor vehicles and has been bailed, pending further enquiries, until January 6.

The investigation was led by Kent Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

Detective Sergeant Rik Spicer said: “The arrests and search warrants are a direct result of months of intelligence led policing.

“This remains an on-going investigation and we will continue with our enquiries to build a case of evidence.”