A police unit tackling the emerging threat of electronic car key cloning has recovered more than 100 stolen vehicles in months, broken car theft syndicates and put crime gang members behind bars.
West Midlands Police set up Operation Transmission last October following an increase in the number of vehicles being stolen by criminals using high-tech gadgets to steal security data from on-board computer and programming it onto blank keys.
Some 534 vehicles were reported stolen in this way during the first nine months of 2012 – but since the Transmission team was established that number has been cut by almost a third.
Force CID Detective Sergeant Glenn Marriott, who heads-up the section, said: “Our focused efforts to target this type of high-tech crime has paid real dividends – we’ve seized stolen vehicles with a combined value of £2.5-million, many stashed at units and garages across the Midlands that our covert work has uncovered.
“We’ve arrested 103 people, 30 of which have been charged with offences such as conspiracy to steal, and made great strides in dismantling organised crime gangs looking to profit from these types of car theft. Many of these have gone on to be handed lengthy prison sentences.”
Three men were recently jailed for trying to steal a BMW 3 Series from an address in Tythebarn Lane, Shirley, in the early hours of February 9 by using a cloned electronic key.
They were arrested following a police pursuit after an alert neighbour heard noises from the driveway and dialled 999. And at Birmingham Crown Court on July 5 a 23-year-old man was jailed for 21 months, whilst men aged 21 and 26, from Coseley and Tyseley respectively, were both jailed for 15 months.
Other successes include the dismantling of a Sandwell car theft ring and recovery of stolen BMWs with a total value of around £300,000.
Three men from the Black Country are awaiting sentence after admitting conspiracy to steal cars whilst two other men, both aged 23 from Oldbury and Smethwick, are awaiting trial.
And a 32-year-old man from Acocks Green is currently remanded in prison in connection with a series of burglaries and car thefts after police discovered a stash of stolen cars in a Small Heath lock-up.
Operation Transmission was initially set up as a six-month trial but has proved so successful it’s been extended until at least November this year – and the model has since been adopted by several other police forces across the country.
Sgt Marriott, added: “Criminals are getting ever more ingenious in their attempts to steal vehicles – but a lot of car crime is still as a result of owners leaving vehicles insecure or with valuables on show.
“Always lock your vehicle – even if just leaving it for a matter of minutes – and never leave cash, bags, clothing or electrical items on display.”
