Overview
- The 11 men, sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday and Thursday, received prison terms totaling 94 years and eight months plus lengthy driving bans.
- The gang broke into homes at night between May and August 2024 to steal keys for high-end cars, using bleach to wipe touch points and striking across the Midlands, the south of England and Wales.
- Police put the value of stolen cars near £3.45 million and the overall losses at about £3.67 million, with many of the 98 vehicles recovered only after being stripped or written off.
- Operation Flare gathered body-cam and helicopter footage and seized social media clips that showed bragging and speeds recorded up to 160 mph during getaways.
- Judge Andrew Lockhart KC said the crimes caused a long-lasting impact on victims, with some families and older residents feeling so unsafe they moved home.