Car thief Robert Thompson locked up for 30 months after £75k luxury car heist spree
Robert Thompson, 35, from Church Road, Hove, was jailed for 30 months at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday, March 17. He pleaded guilty to five offences involving high-end stolen cars, with half his sentence to be served on licence.
Luxury Range Rovers and stolen vehicles in police net
Thompson was caught behind the wheel of a £50,000 stolen Range Rover Velar on January 6, 2021. The vehicle had a fake number plate linked to another stolen Range Rover Velar from Brighton. This Velar was originally taken from a West Drayton property in December 2020. Crucial GPS data from Thompson’s phone placed him at the scene at the time of the theft.
Not done there, Thompson was also found driving a £13,500 stolen Range Rover Evoque from Hove, disguised with false plates. Police arrested him then released him under investigation.
More stolen rides and damning evidence
A year later, on January 13, 2022, officers found a stolen Citroen Nemo van with fake registration parked outside Thompson’s home. A search uncovered the van’s keys and incriminating evidence. DNA and fingerprints also tied him to a £12,000 BMW X3 stolen from Worthing in June 2020.
Hard-hitting words from police
DS Tom Duffy said: “Robert Thompson is a professional criminal, experienced in using false registration plates to hide his crimes. These thefts were of significant value and had a huge impact on his victims and the community.”
“This custodial sentence reflects the teamwork and effort from all involved in bringing Thompson to justice. We are committed to making Brighton and Hove an inhospitable place for criminals.”
Thompson pleaded guilty to three counts of receiving stolen goods related to the two Range Rovers and the BMW, and two counts of fraudulently using false plates on the Range Rover Velar and Citroen van.
