Two men from east London have been charged after allegedly stealing from a Mercedes car at an Essex shopping centre.

Vilivs Petronovicius, 28, of Leyburn Road in Harold Hill and Daniel Myftarago, 24, of Bateman Close in Barking were arrested by Essex Police on Thursday (April 18) after they were allegedly seen trying car door handles at the car park of the new M&S store at Lakeside shopping centre.

Essex Police said they allegedly found the men in possession of a “large quantity” of suspected stolen meat.

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The men were also accused of gaining access to a parked Mercedes and taking items from the car's boot.

Both men were interviewed by officers and a case was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service that authorised their charges.

They were charged with the attempted theft of a motor vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle and going equipped for theft.

Following their appearance at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (April 20), they have since been bailed and are due to return to Southend-on-Sea Magistrates’ Court at a future date.