A gang of professional criminals who terrorised businesses across the West Midlands – including stealing 15 vehicles from a Wolverhampton dealership – have been jailed following sentencing at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Local media The Express & Star reported how the group targeted shops and businesses in a coordinated crime spree of robberies, burglaries and thefts throughout 2021 and 2022.
Among the hardest-hit victims was Brindley’s dealership in Wolverhampton, where the gang made off with 15 cars in a meticulously planned raid.
The court heard the gang struck multiple locations throughout the region where staff and customers were threatened, forced to open safes, and robbed of personal items including handbags and wallets containing bank cards.
Judge Jonathan Gosling described the gang as “professional and utterly ruthless,” adding: “They terrorised numerous staff members and customers in small local businesses and caused misery and hardship to the victims.”
He praised West Midlands Police for their extensive investigation, noting that the gang were “forensically aware,” making identification at the scenes nearly impossible.
“Assembling the evidence against them from numerous sources took, I have no doubt, thousands of hours of detective work and resources. I commend this outstanding police work to the chief constable of the West Midlands,” he said.
Six members of the gang were convicted and sentenced on July 1.