A gang stole Range Rovers worth £800,000 during a month long crime spree targeting leafy villages. Some drivers had their cars stolen just minutes after parking up and thinking they'd left the vehicles secure.
The ten cars stolen were worth around £800,000, prosecutors said. Some vehicles have not been recovered. Five members of the gang, from Rochdale, Oldham and Longsight, have now been brought to justice after CCTV and cell site evidence pinned them to various thefts. Langley, Michael Andrews, Hussain and Shakeel were arrested after being found in a blue BMW on May 13. A signal jammer was found in the car which can be used to interfere with the frequency for key fobs, so cars are prevented from locking properly.
A crack pipe containing his DNA was found in the BMW when they were arrested. Hussain 'slid into' the gang and was not a 'main player' within the conspiracy, his barrister Keith Harrison claimed. Robert Smith said Shaun Andrews was in a 'different position' to the other defendants, as he was only involved in one theft. He said Andrews had problems with drugs but is motivated to change.