Black Country car theft gang jailed for taking Audis and Range Rovers in overnight raids
Kieran Gordon, Joshua Birch and Imad Kaid stole more than 20 cars from homes across the Black Country.
Three car thieves have been jailed for more than 15 years after they were linked to a string of high-value thefts across the Black Country.
The burglary gang snapped door locks off to force their way into at least 16 homes, mainly across Sandwell and Dudley, on the hunt for keys to expensive cars last year.
The trio – Kieran Gordon, Joshua Birch and Imad Kaid – made off with more than 20 cars during overnight raids in quiet residential streets and cul-de-sacs between February and September.
The cars targeted were often new Audi, Mercedes and Range Rover models, with the total value of the stolen vehicles linked to the gang estimated at half a million pounds.
Police chase
Most of the cars were later recovered by West Midlands Police - including a Nissan Juke taken from outside a home in Lynbrook Close, Netherton, on April 24 and seized after a pursuit three days later.
The driver and passengers fled, but left behind vital evidence.
Birch, 22, of Lea Bank Road, in Netherton, was arrested on April 28 and when searched was found to have an Audi key from a Cradley break-in.
Meanwhile images on his phone appeared to show 22-year-old Gordon asleep in the Nissan Juke. He was bailed but re-arrested on May 25.
Gordon, of Mill Road, in Cradley Heath, was also arrested on June 1.
Gordon and 21-year-old Kaid, of Colman Hill Avenue, in Colley, Halesowen, were then arrested on November 21 after officers responded to reports of an attempted break-in in Hagley Road West, Quinton.
They were stopped in Kaid's A3 fleeing the scene and a Vauxhall Corsa stolen days earlier in Stamford Road, Stourbridge, was recovered nearby.
A search of Kaid's home address later uncovered a MacBook stolen during a nighttime burglary in Park Road West, Wollaston, between May 4 and 5.
Officers found Kaid had changed the profile name on the device to 'Robin Banks'.
Charged
They were both charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal with motor vehicles, along with Birch who was arrested again in December.
The trio all admitted playing a part in the conspiracies and at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday Birch, Gordon and Kaid were jailed for five years and four months, five years and four years 10 months respectively.
The conspiracy included burglaries at various addresses in Stourbridge, Halesowen, Tividale, Dudley, Cradley and Wollaston, as well as in Droitwich in Worcestershire.
Detective Constable Darren Barnes, investigating officer, said: "We linked a total of 17 break-ins to some or all of these three but we suspect they may have been involved in considerably more.
“Their tactic was to snap locks on rear doors in the middle of the night and to sneak into properties to steal keys.
"No-one was hurt but the trauma of knowing someone has been in your house while you’re sleeping can’t be underestimated – and some victims woke to find their cars being driven off by the gang.
“These individuals were causing a lot of misery to residents across Sandwell, Dudley and further afield and people can certainly sleep more soundly knowing that they have been put behind bars for a significant period of time.”
The conspiracy included these 2017 burglaries:
Harvine Walk, Norton, Stourbridge, overnight February 26/27
Blakedown Road, Halesowen, early hours of March 3
Taylor Way, Tividale, Warley, overnight March 6/7
Park Way, Droitwich, overnight April 1/2
Lynbrook Close, Netherton, Dudley, 3am on April 24
Ribbersford Close, Cradley, overnight April 26/27
St Joseph’s Court, Droitwich, overnight April 26/27
Waterways Drive, 3am April 26
Park Road West, Wollaston, overnight May 4/5
Edenhall Road, Quinton, overnight May 24/25
Meriden Avenue, Wollaston, Stourbridge, 3am May 19
Shipton Close, Milking Bank, 1.45am June 22
Mission Close, Blackheath, 3.40am July 5
Stourbridge Road, Halesowen, 2.20am on July 2
Mayfield Road, Halesowen, 2am on September 7
