A gang of car thieves from Nuneaton who stole 35 vehicles have been hit with a massive £1.6 million bill to repay – or face a lifetime of debt.
Keyless Car Theft Spree Across Midlands
Between December 2016 and March 2021, four men targeted keyless entry cars across Warwickshire, Coventry, Staffordshire, Northamptonshire, and Leicestershire. They raided homes and stole vehicles which were either stripped for parts or cloned and flogged to innocent buyers. Warwickshire Police launched a lengthy investigation that ended with the men jailed for a total of 14 years at Warwick Crown Court in January 2024.
Prison Released But Debt Shackled For Life
Now released on licence, the crooks aren’t off the hook. Thanks to forensic financial detective work and the Proceeds of Crime Act, they’ve been ordered to repay more than £1.6m – or carry the debt forever. The law allows cops to inspect their bank accounts and assets going back six years prior to charges, assuming any cash involved came from their crime spree.
How Much They Owe – And What They Must Pay Now
- One owes £945,702 but must pay £15,077 upfront
- Another owes £133,909 and must pay £48,406 immediately
- A third faces £325,115 in debt but pays just £1 now
- The last one owes £304,079 and also pays £1 right away
These debts stay with them for life until paid in full. If they come into money later, they must cough up more. Once victims are repaid, the cash recovered is split between the courts, Crown Prosecution Service, and Warwickshire Police. The force vows to pump the money into fighting “acquisitive crime” like theft, burglary and robbery.
“Whatever cash we receive will target acquisitive crime,” said Warwickshire Police. “This sends a clear message: crime doesn’t pay.”
