Gun-Toting Car Thief Caught with Stolen Land Rovers and Rolexes
A vehicle thief holding six illegal guns and a stash of luxury watches has been slammed with a hefty 10 years and 10 months behind bars.
Stolen Land Rover Leads Police to Hidden Arsenal
Phillip Bailey, 32, was arrested after police tracked a black Land Rover Defender stolen from East London. The vehicle was found parked on his driveway in Meopham, Kent, on April 7, 2020, sporting fake number plates and clearly hot-wired.
But the Land Rover was just the tip of the iceberg. Nearby, officers also spotted a black Range Rover, another stolen car, taken last December from Greenhithe.
Safe Cracking Uncovers Guns, Rolex Watches, and Cash
A search of Bailey’s home in Beechwood Gardens revealed two safes loaded with four handguns and two more, plus a cache of 50 bullets and piles of cash totalling around £5,000 stashed in the garden.
Adding to the haul were eight expensive Rolex watches scattered across the property — a glaring red flag for detectives.
Serious Crime Squad Cracks Down
“Phillip Bailey was caught red-handed with two stolen vehicles on his driveway and linked to a wider car theft ring across the South East,” said Detective Constable Terry Hanlon of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.
“It’s clear he had access to deadly weapons capable of causing serious harm. Owning six handguns and multiple luxury watches without explanation is a tell-tale sign of serious crime.”
“Kent Police are committed to rooting out organised crime and removing dangerous firearms from our streets to keep the public safe.”
“Bailey will also face a financial probe under the Proceeds of Crime Act to strip him of any ill-gotten gains once his sentence ends.”
Bailey pleaded guilty to six counts of possessing prohibited firearms, ammunition charges, possession of criminal property, and conspiracy to steal motor vehicles. His sentencing at Woolwich Crown Court on October 23, 2020, sends a strong message to criminals flaunting the law.
