Police warning on sports car thefts
High performance sports cars are being stolen to order across the Black Country by a network of criminals who are exporting them to Africa and Eastern Europe, police say.
A West Bromwich man was jailed earlier this week for his part in a string of thefts of sports cars and hire vehicles and police say it are just the tip of the iceberg.
They say low level criminals are being targeted by big time players to steal cars to order, which are then spirited out of the country where they are sold on the black market.
Ryan Bunce, aged 25, of Rydding Square, Hill Top, pictured, was jailed for three years on Wednesday for his part in raids in which nine sports cars and a fleet of 24 hire vehicles worth more than £630,000 were stolen. He was involved in raids last year on Xtreme UK Ltd, a supercar dealership in Lye, Stourbridge and Thrifty Car Rental in Brierley Hill, where rental vehicles were taken.
Some of the cars are still missing and police are investigating suggestions they could now be abroad.
Detective Chief Inspector Danny Long, of West Bromwich Police, said today: "We do believe that some of these cars were stolen to order and may well have been exported.
"We know that there is a market for these types of cars in Eastern Europe and Africa.
"We have information that we are following up and are working with borders and immigration and the Serious Organised Crime Unit regarding this. There is also evidence that cars were stolen for fun and spun around, or used in minor crimes such as fuel thefts.
"Others could also have been stripped down for parts.
"From our point of view it is much easier for us to track down a car than it is a gearbox, or alloy wheels.
"What has happened here is just the tip of the iceberg."
DCI Long said petty criminals are being recruited to carry out thefts on behalf of others.
He said: "There are people who are tasking some of the lower level criminal fraternity to do the job for them and it is this that we see affecting the local community in Sandwell. Bunce was a low level criminal who we believe was working on behalf of someone else."
Amongst the prestige vehicles stolen by Bunce were an £80,000 Lamborghini Gallardo, a £42,000 Porsche 911, two Subaru Imprezas, three Mitsubishi Evolutions, Mitsubishi Euro 6 and a Renault Clio V6.
However, police are unable to release details of which vehicles are still missing as the investigation is still active.
DCI Long said: "We know there are a network of criminal players that are local and they know who best to contact to break into houses, steal cars, or buy drugs.
"It may take some time, but with our partners we are confident we will track down the people behind this."
