Men from Brentwood and Woodford Green have been jailed for their role in a gang that stole almost £3 million worth of vehicles after targeting Heathrow Airport car park.
Some 72 cars, including Range Rovers, BMWs and Mercedes, were stolen across London and the south east over a 10-month period between December 2019 and October 2020.
The gang targeted cars with keyless technology on residential streets, driveways and dealership forecourts, using a device to programme a new digital key in just seconds which allowed them to gain entry and drive off.
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An investigation, launched after a number of thefts from a car park at Heathrow, found the group were behind more than £2.8 million worth of stolen vehicles.
Ringleader James Howsen, 32, from Brentwood, was jailed for six years and eight months and banned from driving for six years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal, dangerous driving, burglary, and aggravated vehicle taking.
He was one of four men who were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday (November 4) after admitting their roles, the Metropolitan Police said.
Dwaine Dixon, 29, from Woodford Green, was jailed for five years and 11 months for conspiracy to steal and burglary.
Jack MacLeod, 29, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for two years and eight months for conspiracy to steal, burglary, two counts of dangerous driving, ABH and aggravated vehicle taking.
Brodi Higgins, 24, of no fixed address, was sentenced to four years and one month imprisonment and disqualified from driving for two years and ten months for conspiracy to steal, burglary, theft of a vehicle and dangerous driving.
PC Barry Munnelly, of the Met’s Aviation Policing Command, who led the investigation, said: “This gang travelled around London and the south east to commit these brazen thefts – at all times of the day from residential streets, private driveways and car dealership forecourts.
“On a number of occasions they drove recklessly, showing no regard for the safety of the public or police officers.”
On October 23, 2020, Arif Ahmed, 28, of Woodford Green, drove a stolen vehicle with Dixon and Abbas Moobe, 25, of Woodford Green, out of a car park at Heathrow Terminal 5, deliberately collided with police cars and rammed an exit barrier to make an escape.
Arif Ahmed and Moobe were among four other members of the gang jailed earlier this year.
Jordan Murray, 25, from Romford, was jailed for three years and eight months, and disqualified from driving for three years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal and two counts of aggravated vehicle taking.
Zakaria Ahmed, 28, of Woodford Green, was sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment, and disqualified from driving for seven years and seven months after admitting to conspiracy to steal and two counts of aggravated vehicle taking.
Arif Ahmed was jailed for three years and three months, and disqualified from driving for three years after admitting to conspiracy to steal, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving.
Moobe was jailed for three years and three months, and disqualified from driving for two years and nine months after admitting to conspiracy to steal and aggravated vehicle taking.
Ch Supt Ian Howells, operation command unit commander for aviation policing, added: “This is an excellent example of an extremely thorough and diligent investigation which has resulted in a dangerous criminal network being closed down.
"As well as the widespread theft of vehicles and the distress caused to victims, the manner in which they carried out their offending presented a real danger to the public and I am pleased that they have now been brought to justice.
“The Met are committed to getting justice for victims, safeguarding the public and tackling organised criminal gangs.”
Reporting by PA.
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