A gang of vehicle thieves from Birmingham, who not only stole 45 cars worth over £1 million but also flaunted their crimes on TikTok, has been sentenced to jail. The group, consisting of four men and two teenagers, targeted houses across Birmingham, Stourbridge, Solihull, Coventry, and Warwickshire between March 2022 and May 2023.
The thieves, capturing their exploits on social media, filmed burglaries, car thefts, and even recorded internet searches for the value of the stolen vehicles. One TikTok video posted in February 2023 showed the gang wearing masks, breaking into a property, stealing a Hyundai, and subsequently speeding at over 100 mph.
Their audacious crimes involved weapons, and in one instance in Kings Norton, they threatened a homeowner, indicating they would stab him if he didn’t surrender his car keys.
Birmingham’s Serious and Organised Crime team initiated an investigation, leading to the arrest of two 16-year-olds in May 2023 after a public report of suspicious behavior. The subsequent search of their car revealed pepper spray, balaclavas, and another set of car keys linked to a stolen BMW. The entire gang was eventually arrested in June 2023.
Mobile phones seized during their arrests contained incriminating evidence, including videos of the gang at crime scenes and driving stolen vehicles recklessly at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
The gang, pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, received varying sentences at Birmingham Crown Court on September 25, 2023. Joshua Reid (25) was sentenced to four years six months, Cody Morgan (25) to three years four months, Connor O’Keefe-Clancy (19) to five years, Ryan Allen (21) to four years three months, one 16-year-old to four years six months, and another 16-year-old received a two-year Youth Rehabilitation Order with a one-year overnight curfew.
Detective Constable Kenny Crawford from Birmingham’s Serious and Organised Crime Team highlighted the planned and targeted nature of the crimes, expressing hope that the sentences bring closure to the victims and serve as a warning to criminals in the West Midlands. The gang’s lack of remorse, demonstrated by recording and uploading their crimes on TikTok, further underscores the audacity of their actions.
