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Robert Jenrick was subjected to a torrent of abuse at a West London car boot sale after challenging sellers over fears they were offering stolen tools for sale.
The shadow justice minister visited the Hounslow Heath market on Sunday, where he said he was appalled to see rows of drills, saws and power tools being sold for a fraction of their retail value – some still bearing tradesmen’s names and company markings.
Tensions quickly boiled over when Jenrick began asking stallholders how they could be sure their goods weren’t stolen.
Several sellers in the footage became aggressive, swearing at him and demanding he leave the site.
One man, who was selling power drills for just £20, reportedly told him to ‘move on’ before shouting ‘f*** off, you stupid idiot’ as he stepped towards him.
Jenrick refused to back down, reportedly replying: ‘You don’t scare me.’
The 43-year-old politician was said to have been surrounded by sellers, some wearing balaclavas, who accused him of causing trouble and tried to block him from inspecting their stalls.
Speaking afterwards, Jenrick said many of the tools on display appeared to have been taken from hardworking tradespeople whose vans had been broken into.
He said the lack of police presence allowed suspected stolen goods to be sold in broad daylight.
The shadow justice minister visited the Hounslow Heath market on Sunday, where he said he was appalled to see rows of drills, saws and power tools being sold for a fraction of their retail value
Tensions quickly boiled over when Jenrick began asking stallholders how they could be sure their goods weren’t stolen
‘These tools have tradesman’s marks on them,’ he told the Sun. ‘These may well be tradesmen who had their vans broken into and tools stolen and they’ve found themselves here being sold for a tenner each.’
Campaigners say Hounslow Heath has long been associated with the sale of suspected stolen equipment, with thousands of items allegedly changing hands there every weekend.
Police estimate that more than £800 million worth of tools are stolen across Britain each year – many never recovered – leaving plumbers, electricians and builders unable to work.
Jenrick said the experience left him convinced that tougher enforcement was urgently needed. He accused both police and local councils of turning a blind eye and claimed traders were operating ‘without fear of being caught’.
He said officers should be carrying out regular raids to deter criminals and protect honest tradesmen.
‘We need to make sure police are raiding these car boot sales every week until these guys stop it, until they feel there’s actually something that’s going to happen to them,’ he said.
After leaving the site, he described how some sellers had become ‘rattled’, covering their faces and refusing to answer simple questions about where their stock came from.
Adding that it was clear to him that many knew they were selling stolen items.
Several sellers in the footage can be seen becoming aggressive, swearing at him and demanding he leave the site
A Hounslow Heath car boot sale spokesman said: ‘We do not permit stolen goods whatsoever to be sold at our car boot sale.
‘This is shown on the signage we have on site, the leaflets that we provide each seller as they enter our car boot sale, and our website.
‘We have been working with the Metropolitan Police for the past year. The vehicle registration of anyone selling power tools is provided to the police every week, The police perform regular visits, which we encourage.
‘The police have requested that eight vehicles be refused entry to our car boot sale, which we have enforced, and these vehicles are no longer able to attend our car boot sale.’
