Serial car key burglars put behind bars

The three men, all from Rugby, were sentenced to a total of six years and five months at Coventry Crown Court today (Thursday February 2) after being found guilty of committing a series of car key burglaries in Warwickshire and Leicestershire in April and May 2011.

Jason Wright, 27, of Carlton Road, was sentenced to three years and 4 months for conspiracy to commit car key burglary offences, eighteen year old Reece Hogben and nineteen year old Lewis Angell, both of Deepmore Road, were sentenced to two years and four months and nine months respectively.

Police identified the trio in an extensive investigation after a rise in car key burglaries.

The thefts - in which the intruders sometimes woke householders as they slept - occurred in Rounds Hill in Kenilworth, Shelley Avenue in Warwick, Stratford Road in Lighthorne Heath, Macbeth Close and Falstaff Drive in Rugby and Harecroft Crescent in Sapcote, Leicestershire.

Officers discovered that there was a high degree of planning in the crimes, in which property worth £58,000 was stolen.

During the investigation the police executed a number of search warrants in an effort to make further arrests and recovered stolen property.

Det Con Gary Hammond said “We are delighted at this result.

“Many people were affected by the prolific offending behaviour of these individuals and these lengthy sentences rightly reflect the severity of the offences and the vulnerable nature of many of the victims.

“We will continue to work to disrupt the activities of anyone we believe may be committing crime in Warwickshire and urge the public to call us with any information they may have that could help us reduce crime where they live.

“Please call 101 - the new emergency number - or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If a crime is in progress, dial 999.”