Two men charged with 130 vehicle crime offences across West Midlands
Two men have been charged over more than 125 vehicle theft offences across Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, and Staffordshire.
Steven Swinburn, aged 28, and Liam Smith, aged 24, have been charged with conspiracy to steal, following 130 thefts or attempted thefts of vehicles over the past seven months.
Smith has been further charged with burglary and robbery.
The two men were set to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Friday, where no pleas were entered at the hearing, and the matter sent to Wolverhampton Crown Court for trial, with the next plea and trial preparation hearing being from 9.30am onwards on January 15.
Smith was remanded in custody, and Swinburn granted conditional bail to attend the next hearing.
It comes after officers from West Midlands Police arrested the two men and a woman at addresses in the All Saints and Low Hill areas of the city on Wednesday.
Liam's mother, Emma Smith, aged 45, has been charged with handling stolen goods and bailed to appear at Dudley Magistrates Court on January 8.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "Tackling all forms of vehicle crime is a priority for us across the West Midlands, and it's fallen by nearly 15 per cent in the last year - that's over 4,000 fewer crimes.
"If your vehicle is stolen, it's vital you report it to us as soon as possible."
