£1 Million Machinery Heist Gang Jailed
Three men, including a pair of brothers, have been locked up while four others received suspended sentences for their roles in a massive stolen machinery racket. The gang sold over £1 million worth of pilfered plant equipment across the UK and overseas.
46 Machines Stolen and Sold Worldwide
Between 2015 and 2018, thieves swiped 46 high-value plant machines mainly from the North West. The stolen gear was taken to an industrial unit in Nelson, where gang members stripped or altered identification numbers to cover their tracks.
The gang then flogged the machines across Europe—and as far as Australia—tricking buyers into thinking they were legitimate goods. Each machine was worth between £8,000 and a staggering £105,000. The haul’s total value? Around £1.3 million.
Victims Left Devastated
The buyers only found out the harsh truth when police seized the stolen items during the investigation. A couple of victims lost multiple machines and revealed the financial blow and damage to their trusted reputations.
“I have been trading in the plant/machinery business for over 20 years,” one victim said. “My business is built on trust and goodwill. Receiving the police information felt like my good name was tarnished and I was helpless.”
“I have lost confidence in doing business, worrying how others now see me.”
Hard-Hitting Sentences at Preston Crown Court
Preston Crown Court handed down tough penalties to the gang members who played various roles in this criminal enterprise:
- Max Wynn, 34, Wigan: 8½ years – the mastermind
- Richard Wynn, 47, Burnley: 8½ years – Max’s brother and frontman
- Alex Grice, 33, Burnley: 5 years 11 months – key operator
- Karl Langley, 44, Burnley: 2 years, suspended for 18 months
- Craig Douglas, 41: 18 months, suspended
- Gavin Mellor, 53, Burnley: 2 years, suspended
- Ian Mellor, 72, Ruthin: 10 months, suspended
How The Gang Operated
The police probe kicked off when a victim spotted a stolen digger identical to his own on sale from the Nelson unit. Officers swooped on the place, catching Max Wynn and Alex Grice red-handed ‘cloning’ another stolen machine.
Max Wynn, identified as the “driving force” behind the scam, was the company director whose name was on the lease of the Nelson unit. All 46 stolen machines passed through his hands before being “laundered” through friends and family. He even pocketed VAT charged to customers without paying HMRC.
Richard Wynn, Max’s older brother, coordinated deliveries and money laundering. Alex Grice earned fees for each machine he helped disguise. Karl Langley and Craig Douglas each handled machines, aiding the deception. Gavin and Ian Mellor ran complex money laundering through shell companies to clean the cash.
Police Respond to the Biggest Machinery Theft Plot
PC Neil Goodison of Lancashire Police said: “We linked these high-value thefts directly to Max Wynn and uncovered a conspiracy involving over a million pounds worth of stolen equipment. The gang altered machines to hide their identity and sold them to innocent buyers as far afield as Spain, Sweden, and Australia.”
“This group’s audacity was staggering. We welcome these sentences and hope they show that we take this criminal activity seriously. We won’t allow our communities to be targeted and left financially and mentally damaged.”
