Chopshop gang even posed as airport valets

Chief reporter Neal Keeling on the brazen crimes of car thieves whose arrogance led to their downfall

AS HE PULLED up in his silver C220 AMG Mercedes at Manchester Airport, a holidaymaker handed over his keys to a valet so it could be kept safe while he was away.

But unknowingly he had been duped by criminals operating an international scam in stolen highend vehicles. And now they had their hands on his £50,000 pride and joy.

The gang had created false documents to give the impression they were representatives of a legitimate controlled parking company. When the owner returned from his trip he contacted the real company and discovered he had been deceived.

Another car was stolen off a drive by the gang whilst the owner was on holiday.

On one occasion, they walked into a house whilst the owners were in the garden and stole the keys.

In a separate incident a man was threatened to stay inside his house in Failsworth with his three-year-old daughter whilst they stole his car, or he would be killed.

Cruising around a smart estate, one of the gang commented 'Fresh' as they drove by a pristine white Range Rover Sport.

Soon after the vehicle was in the back of a shipping container as another asset in a lucrative criminal enterprise. The clip from a phone recovered by police who smashed a group behind a prolific spree of thefts.

The vehicle was one of scores stolen by an Oldham-based firm who called themselves 'The Company' and hit on a way of making millions from stealing high-end cars to order and sending them abroad. Others were stripped in one of seven chop shops across Greater Manchester and the parts sold.

Even when police started making arrests they continued to steal vehicles and just opened new chop shops if others were raided and closed.

Their arrogance was reflected in incriminating messages from their group chat they called 'The Company. One said 'five-o busted the yard again' in relation to a police raid in Wigan in October 2019, and then joked they should start packing their jail kit.