Warning after Car Key Burglars Jailed

MEMBERS OF A CAR THEFT GANG that stole from over 50 homes across Warwickshire and Leicestershire for some seven months in 2019 have been jailed. The Coventry based gang were involved in burglaries that took place at 51 addresses across the two counties as they looked to enter homes and steal keys for expensive motor vehicles. 

Some of the events, where members of the public became involved bordered on robbery as the motor vehicles such as BMW’s and Audi’s were stolen. Other items of values such as jewellery was taken in a couple of the cases.

Three of the team – Keanan Walker, Myles Campbell and a 17-year-old who cannot be named because of his age – pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to steal. Walker, of Westminster Road, Spon End, was jailed for five-and-a-half years after a judge at Warwick Crown Court said he was taking into account a sentence he has already served for a burglary committed during the same period. A 17-year-old, also from Coventry, who had an extensive list of previous convictions and is serving a life sentence for murder, was sentenced to six-and-a-half years detention. 

A warrant was issued for the arrest of Campbell, 22, of The Moorfields, Stoke Aldermoor, after he failed to turn up for the hearing.

Prosecutor Andrew Wallace said “This is a very large conspiracy carried out between April 1, 2019, and December 24 that year. “It involves 51 separate addresses and a very wide geographical trawl in Warwickshire  and Leicestershire looking for expensive vehicles to steal to a value which exceeds £1 million. “All of these defendants are serious criminals, and burglary and theft seems to be a lifestyle for them.The object of the conspiracy was to obtain vehicles by the commission of burglaries, sometimes to get the car keys, but on other occasions there is a theft of the vehicle which is very close to being a robbery. ” 

The convictions are a result of Warwickshire, West Midlands and Leicestershire Police teams working together to detect and arrest the suspects and place evidence of their crimes before the Court.

In welcoming the news of the convictions Kenilworth’s Safer Neighbourhood Team warned residents that the threat of car theft continues with two vehicles stolen across Kenilworth in the past week using techniques to foil keyless entry and vehicle ignition systems.

Kenilworth’s SNT and Kenilworth Watch are appealing to people with motor vehicles, particularly expensive and sought after models, to take practical measures to deter vehicle theft.

Two things are advised:

An effective steering lock which makes its a great deal more difficult to steal the vehicle.

A metal box (Faraday cage) or faraday pouch which when keyless ignition keys are placed inside cannot be intercepted by unlawful devices near the property.

These measures make a real difference as they go a long way to thwart attempts to steal keyless entry motor vehicles.