Thief targeted offices for £24k car haul

A thief who walked into offices in the Black Country taking car keys from coat pockets and stealing the vehicles, made more than £24,640, a court heard.

Mateusz Weronikci, from West Bromwich, targeted offices around the area during the middle of the day, swiping keys and driving the cars from the car park, as well as taking a wallet and a mobile phone.

The 21-year-old, of Bailey Street, admitted three counts of burglary, one of theft, and also driving without a licence and without insurance when he appeared before West Bromwich magistrates yesterday.

His case has now been transferred to Wolverhampton Crown Court after magistrates deemed they had insufficient powers to give him an appropriate sentence.

Prosecuting Helen Edwards said: "He stole purely for monetary gain and his offences totalled £24,640."

The court heard Weronikci targeted the Headland Engineering plant in Oldbury Road, West Bromwich, and stole car keys. He then drove off in a Peugeot 406 car, to which the keys belonged. The car was later found abandoned.

On June 26 he is accused of going to James Paget Ltd in Bilston, stealing keys and a white van, and on June 30, he also stole a Honda Accord and keys from the Smith Jigboring works in Great Bridge.

Weronikci was arrested after being caught driving a stolen car along Red Lion Street in Wolverhampton and admitted the rest of the offences. He was remanded in custody to appear before Wolverhampton Crown Court on July 30.