Car theft gang who bragged on WhatsApp about stealing nearly £3.5million of luxury motors are jailed for 94 years

By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:44, 18 April 2026 | Updated: 01:52, 18 April 2026 A gang of car thieves who bragged about stealing almost £3.5million worth of luxury motors have been jailed for 94 years. The group stole almost 100 vehicles between May and August 2024, and West Mercia Police said the 111 offences sparked 'the biggest conspiracy' it has ever dealt with. Out of 98 luxury vehicles, some valued in excess of £100,000, stolen, only 40 were recovered, with one found as far away as Azerbaijan, Worcester Crown Court heard. The group of 12 operated in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Powys, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Cambridgeshire.  The gang stole high-end cars including BMWs, Audis, Land Rovers and Range Rovers, by breaking into their victims' homes and stealing the keys. Videos shared on WhatsApp and Snapchat captured them bragging about their exploits and scouting out target vehicles while dashcam footage from stolen cars caught them racing away from crime scenes at speeds of more than 160mph.  The group would also bleach the entrance and exit points of the homes they targteed to hide forensic evidence before speeding off in the stolen vehicles, causing extensive damage.  They would quickly move on the cars using criminal networks by either disguising the vehicles' original identities to sell them on the black market for only a fraction of their value or strip them out for parts in illegal 'chop shops.' The group of 12 operated in Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Powys, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Cambridgeshire The gang stole high-end cars including BMWs, Audis, Land Rovers and Range Rovers, by breaking into their victims' homes and stealing the keys One of the car theft gang members being arrested by police The damage caused to the properties, as well as other stolen valuables, including sentimental jewellery and cash, they ramped up the cost of their criminal enterprise to around £3.67million. Carrying out burglaries in balaclavas and often confronting their victims, the gang caused misery and harm to those they targeted, which included elderly and vulnerable people, and families with young children, across the UK.  Each offender was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit burglary and one count of conspiracy to conceal/disguise/transfer/remove criminal property. Detective Constable Simon Lloyd, co-lead investigator for Op Flare, said: 'This organised criminal gang were responsible for £3.45million of car thefts causing a lot of harm to their victims in the process. 'Not only did the victims suffer from their cars being stolen and homes broken into, but the offenders also had a 'calling card' of bleaching areas they came to contact with damaging properties and causing further misery.' Detective Inspector James Bamber of Proactive CID added: 'This result is for those victims. We hope it brings them some sense of justice and helps them to move on with their lives after the harm this gang have caused them. 'For West Mercia Police it concludes a thorough and comprehensive year-long investigation by our officers into what has been the biggest conspiracy case by volume of offences ever dealt with by the force. 'I would like to pay tribute to the Op Flare team for their hard work and dedication on this case which has seen justice delivered for more than a hundred victims across the country.' During sentencing, Judge Andrew Lockhart KC told the perpetrators in court: 'The terrible and long-lasting impact of your offences strike at the heart of society who should feel safe and secure in their own homes. 'You reaped havoc upon their lives without any thought for them. 'Families endured fear and children were affected by your actions.  'A significant portion of your victims were forced to move home as they couldn't face living there anymore. 'You caused them huge financial losses. Sentimental items were taken and relationships between families were harmed by the stress you caused them.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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