Moped Ram-Raiders Jailed for £3,000 Hair Salon Heist
Two brazen thieves used a moped to smash through a hair salon’s glass door and make off with thousands of pounds worth of beauty gear, including hairdryers, curlers, and straighteners. Gary Parkes and accomplice Liam Byrom have now been locked up for their daring daylight raid in Dartford.
Tracked by Ankle Tag and Phone Data
Parkes, 32, was caught red-handed thanks to an electronic ankle tag he was wearing after a previous prison spell. The GPS data from his tag matched CCTV footage and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras showing the moped’s movements during the ram-raid.
Police arrested Parkes at his Woolwich home on January 13 and charged him with burglary. His 25-year-old co-defendant Byrom, who has no fixed address, was identified after detectives examined Parkes’ phone records and phone mast data confirmed the pair travelled together to the Market Street salon on New Year’s Day.
Byrom was arrested later that month, with officers finding the clothes he wore during the raid at a property in Dartford.
Sentenced for The Shocking Smash-and-Grab
Both men admitted burglary and were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on March 12, 2022. Parkes copped 22 months behind bars, while Byrom received the same sentence.
Police Pledge Zero Tolerance on Ram-Raids
“Parkes and Byrom caused considerable disruption—not just from the stolen items but the damage to the shop’s door,” said Detective Constable Dan Bister. “We’re pleased justice has been served quickly and hope the victims can now get some closure.”
“Offending like this is intolerable. We will always hold perpetrators accountable and take every step to bring them to justice.”
