Prolific Wolverhampton thief jailed for car crime spree
A prolific thief who broke into cars during a five-day crime spree has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.
Opportunist Marvin Downie targeted cars where motorists had left belongings on show in Wolverhampton last month.
The thief smashed windows to steal sat navs, stereos, laptops, and mobile phones from the cars between between May 14 and 19.
The 33-year-old also targeted expensive sunglasses and jewellery during his five-day raid in the St Peter's and Park wards.
Downie was caught when officers visited a house he was staying at on Merridale Road and found the hoard of stolen property.
He had already been linked to another stash of stereos, mountain bikes and phone chargers found at a flat on Newhampton Road West five days earlier.
Police believe that Downie was on the lookout for easy targets during the spree, such as sat navs and jewellery left in plain view of people walking past the cars.
They have issued a warning to the public to help reduce the number of thefts from cars by making sure that valuables are kept out of sight or not left in cars.
He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Downie was found guilty of seven counts of theft from motor vehicles.
Police today welcomed the sentence and offered advice on how motorists could help deter thieves.
Sergeant Matt Cooper from Wolverhampton Police said: "Downie was on the lookout for easy targets, where drivers had left valuable items on show.
"All he had to do was put the window through and he was away. He's now quite rightly serving a long stretch in prison.
"Vehicle crime is a constant threat but you can easily reduce the risks of becoming a victim by never leaving anything on display and wiping suction marks from sat navs from the windscreen.
"Try to avoid parking in dark and secluded areas, never leave expensive items in the glove box and fit an alarm or immobiliser."
