£700k ATM Heist Gang Busted After Stolen Audi Spotted on Low Loader £700k ATM Heist Gang Brought Down After Stolen Audi Spotted on Low Loader
A ruthless gang who stole close to £700,000 in a string of ATM raids across the UK have finally been jailed, thanks to a police eagle eye spotting a stolen Audi on a flatbed truck.
High-Tech Heist Spree Across the Country
The criminals hit nine banks and shops over nearly a year, using specialist gear like angle grinders and the jaws of life – equipment normally reserved for rescuing trapped motorists. They even reinforced a flatbed truck to ram their way inside premises.
To make getaways, the gang stole high-performance cars and swapped multiple fake number plates on them to dodge police.
Hunting the Gang Nationwide
West Midlands Police’s Major Crime Unit pieced together evidence from CCTV, mobile phones, WhatsApp voice notes, fingerprints and DNA to track them down. The gang’s operations were centred in the Midlands.
Their downfall came when they booked two holiday lets in one county as a base while they robbed three shops in three days during August 2024, snatching over £128,000.
A police officer spotted a stolen Audi being hauled on a low loader heading back to the Midlands. The transporter was stopped, and driver Daniel Hickenbottom was arrested. His job? To sneak stolen vehicles under the radar.
Key Players Behind Bars
- Craig Howell, 44, convicted of conspiracy to burgle, handling stolen goods & possessing criminal property. Jailed for 10 years.
- Noel Reilly, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy-related charges. Locked up for eight years and six months.
- Simon Pagett, 43, also pleaded guilty on similar counts. Sentenced to eight years and six months.
- Oliver Matthews, 39, owned the vehicle spray shop used for storing stolen cars and aiding the gang. Sentenced to 40 months.
- Daniel Hickenbottom, 38, caught transporting cars, jailed for three years and nine months.
Busted by Their Own Bravado
“During the investigation, we recovered a WhatsApp audio from Reilly boasting police had no ‘concrete evidence’ against them,” revealed officers. Eleven days later, dawn raids brought the gang crashing down.
The gang’s crimes stretched across multiple forces, but their arrogance and the stolen Audi on a flatbed ended their reign.
With justice served, the Midlands can breathe a little easier knowing these hardened criminals are behind bars.
