Moped Ram-Raiders Caught Thanks to Ankle Tag GPS
Gary Parkes and Liam Byrom smashed their way into a Dartford hair salon on New Year’s Day, stealing thousands in beauty gear after crashing a moped through the shop’s glass door. But Parkes’ ankle tag proved his undoing, giving police the key evidence to lock him up.
£3,000 Hair Salon Heist Caught on Camera
The daring daylight raid happened just after 5pm on 1 January 2022 at a Market Street hair salon. CCTV showed the pair speeding in on a moped, smashing through the front window, and grabbing hairdryers, curlers, straighteners, and other pricey beauty products before speeding off.
Both men wore crash helmets, but that didn’t stop police tracking their movements.
High-Tech Evidence Seals Fate
Parkes, 32, was already serving time on an electronic ankle tag for a previous offence. The GPS data matched perfectly with the moped’s route caught on CCTV and ANPR cameras. Police arrested him at his Woolwich home on 13 January.
Co-offender Liam Byrom, 25, with no fixed address, was tracked through mobile phone records showing frequent contact with Parkes. He was arrested in Sidcup on 20 January, where officers found the clothes he wore during the theft.
Sentences Delivered at Maidstone Crown Court
Both men pleaded guilty to burglary. Parkes was sentenced to 22 months, and Byrom also received a 22-month sentence. They’ve been held on remand since their arrests.
“Parkes and Byrom caused a considerable amount of disruption not just because of what they stole but the damage to the salon door,” said Detective Constable Dan Bister.
“We moved fast to bring justice for the victims and will never tolerate crimes like this.”
