Thieves Nabbed After Rapid Ford Fiesta Theft Spree Caught on CCTV
Two dashes and a swipe later—two car thieves are caught red-handed stealing a Ford Fiesta in under two minutes during a massive spree that saw 59 Fiestas nicked across the region.
How They Pulled Off the Heists
- Kaine Guest-Scott and Theon Lynch used tech savvy tricks, tapping transmitter devices to unlock cars parked at busy train station car parks.
- Commuters heading to work were their unwitting victims, often returning to find their cars gone.
- The duo then wielded angle grinders to smash steering locks and drive off.
But their slick tactics didn’t fool the Vehicle Crime Taskforce, who launched a full-scale investigation.
Caught on Camera—The Evidence Stacks Up
Extensive CCTV footage tracked the pair across multiple incidents. One clip from 14 September shows them arriving at The Hawthorns station car park in a red Fiesta owned by Lynch, ditching it nearby before stealing another nearby. Just over a month later, cameras caught them swiping a Fiesta at Rowley Regis car park with the victim’s credit card still inside—and brazenly using it in a shop later.
Following a dramatic arrest where Guest-Scott jumped out a window to evade cops, both men were finally hauled in November 2022. Searches of their homes uncovered clothes matching CCTV footage, mobiles placing Lynch at crime scenes, and a cache of specialist tools: transmitter devices, blank keys, turbo decoders, and reprogramming gadgets designed to beat car locks.
Judgment Day and Police Praise
Guest-Scott of Bayer Street, Coseley, and Lynch of Horsecroft Drive, West Bromwich, pled guilty to conspiracy to steal 59 vehicles, bank card theft, and fraud. On 17 March at Birmingham Crown Court, they received hefty jail terms: four years and one month for Guest-Scott, and three years for Lynch.
Sgt Mitch Darby from the Vehicle Crime Taskforce said: “This is a great result, bringing two prolific thieves to justice. They repeatedly stole cars in broad daylight while victims were at work, only to find their vehicles gone when they returned. “The Taskforce was set up specifically to tackle rising car thefts in the West Midlands, and this remains a top priority. “We rely on the public to report suspicious activity. If something doesn’t feel right, speak up—your tip-offs make a real difference.”
