£1 Million Keyless Car Theft Duo Busted and Jailed
Two men behind a £1 million theft spree targeting keyless-entry cars across England have landed hefty jail sentences. Juozas Baltors, 28, and Darius Lukauskas, 31, were locked up for over four years each following a dramatic trial at Peterborough Crown Court.
High-Tech Relay Scams Hit 26 Luxury Cars Across 10 Counties
The pair masterminded the theft of 26 expensive vehicles—from sleek BMWs to rugged Mercedes—across 10 counties. Using sophisticated ‘relay’ devices, they intercepted key fob signals from inside victims’ homes in the dead of night, allowing them to start and steal cars without a trace.
- They delivered stolen vehicles to a Peterborough ‘chop-shop’ for dismantling.
- Cloned number plates and advanced jamming devices were used to hide stolen vehicles and block trackers.
- Parts were shipped out of the UK, making recovery near-impossible.
How the Crooks Were Caught – Roadside Stop Unravels Crime Ring
On 13 April 2020, a routine traffic stop in Peterborough exposed Baltors when police spotted a BMW X5 on cloned plates. The vehicle was stolen from Hampshire just 10 days earlier. Searches uncovered powerful jamming devices and images of car dismantling on Baltors’ phone.
The following day, police raided an industrial unit where they found two stolen cars mid-dismantling and more stolen vehicles outside, including a Mercedes Sprinter van with fake plates. Cloned plates, jamming devices, and parts from at least seven other stolen cars were discovered inside.
Gang Revealed: Lukauskas Arrested, Both Found Guilty
Investigations revealed Lukauskas called Baltors to coordinate stolen vehicle deliveries to Peterborough. Lukauskas was arrested in Berkshire and charged with conspiracy to steal vehicles. Both men denied the charges but were convicted after a seven-day trial.
Baltors was also sentenced for breaching a deportation order, having sneaked back into the UK under a false name just days after being deported in 2020. He was hit with an extra three months in jail and a three-year driving ban for driving uninsured.
Police Warn Keyless Car Owners: Time To Up Your Security
“This gang exploited weaknesses in modern car security. Owners of keyless vehicles must take layered security measures,” said PC Jeremy Turner from Cambridgeshire Constabulary. “Simple steps like key fob pouches, steering locks, and parking tactics can thwart thieves who prefer quick and easy targets.”
Police advise contacting vehicle manufacturers for tailored security advice and recommend using barriers like gates or garages to block access. As crime tech evolves, so must car owners’ defences.
List of Some High-Value Cars Stolen Between Feb-May 2020
- Mercedes Sprinter van – Walsall, West Midlands (£13,720)
- Range Rover Sport – Slough, Berkshire (£28,000)
- BMW M2 and BMW 740D – Northampton (£38,000 & £93,000)
- Mercedes GLE 350 – London (£38,000)
- BMW X5 – Essex (£32,000)
- BMW 760LI – Buckinghamshire (£28,000)
- BMW 435D – Buckinghamshire (£20,800)
- BMW X5 – Hertfordshire (£70,000)
- BMW 760LI – Hertfordshire (£57,700)
- Audi Q7 – Maidenhead, Berkshire (£74,000)
- BMW 530 – Hampshire (£47,827)
- And many more high-end vehicles stolen across multiple counties.
