Stolen Mercedes smashes into police car in Rainham during chase after woman is thrown out of hijacked Audi

An elderly woman was thrown out of her car in Newham this morning, before thieves used it as part of a convoy to smash into a police vehicle during a high-speed chase.

A woman in her mid-60s reported to police that two men pulled her from her Audi A3, as they stole her car on Wednesday around 8am in Trader Road, East Ham.

Less than an hour later police spotted the stolen car in Wennington Road, Rainham, as they launched a car pursuit by specialist officers.

A Mercedes vehicle, earlier seen in convoy with the Audi, then returned during the chase and deliberately rammed into a police car in Marsh Way, Rainham, the Met said.

The driver of the Mercedes tried to escape from the scene, but was arrested by officers.

The Audi made off and was later found abandoned nearby. The Mercedes also turned out to be stolen, in a separate incident in Essex earlier on Wednesday.

The road at the site of the crash was initially closed while emergency services attended. It has now reopened.

The woman whose car was stolen suffered minor injuries.

Insp Richard Wenham said: “Officers have done their job and quickly circulated and located a stolen car.

“Professionally trained officers have then taken over the pursuit and their car was rammed in a desperate attempt by the suspects to get away.

“Both officers were injured, but thankfully not seriously.”

Two police vehicles were damaged during the incident.

Two officers received minor injuries and were later discharged from hospital.

Witnesses can call the police on 101 or contact them via Twitter@MetCC, quoting CAD 1694/27JUL.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.