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Car thieves behind £500,000 crime spree caught after detectives recovered bag containing stolen comics

A trio of bungling burglars who stole more than 20 cars in 16 raids totalling £500,000 have been jailed.

Kieran Gordon, Joshua Birch and Imad Kaid snapped door locks to force their way into at least 16 homes – mainly in Sandwell and Dudley – between February and September last year on the hunt for keys to high-value cars.

The trio – aged 22, 22 and 21 respectively – made off with more than 20 cars, often new Audi, Mercedes and Range Rover models, during the overnight raids in quiet residential streets and cul-de-sacs.

Many of the cars were later recovered by West Midlands Police.

Kieran Gordon’s fingerprints were found on piles of collectible comics abandoned in a holdall after police stopped the stolen Nissan Juke he was travelling in. (West Midlands Police)
Kieran Gordon’s fingerprints were found on piles of collectible comics abandoned in a holdall after police stopped the stolen Nissan Juke he was travelling in. (West Midlands Police)

A Nissan Juke taken from outside a home in Netherton, in the early hours of April 24 was seized following a pursuit three days later, and despite the driver and passengers fleeing they left evidence that would lead to their downfall.

Officers found a holdall inside containing collectable comics – stolen during the theft of an Audi in Ribberford Close, Cradley, on 27 April – on which Gordon’s fingerprints were found, plus items stolen from St Joseph’s Close, Droitwich, on the same morning.

Birch, of Lea Bank Road in Netherton, was arrested on April 28, he was found in possession of an Audi key from the Cradley break-in – and images on his phone showed Gordon asleep in the Nissan Juke.

He re-arrested on May 25 and Gordon, pf Mill Road in Cradley Heath, was questioned on June 1.

Pictures uncovered by police show Joshua Birch posing in a stolen Volkswagen Golf (West Midlands Police)
Pictures uncovered by police show Joshua Birch posing in a stolen Volkswagen Golf (West Midlands Police)

Gordon and Kaid, of Coleman Hill Avenue, Colley, were arrested on November 21 after an attempted break in.

They were stopped in Kaid’s A3 driving away from the scene – and a Vauxhall Corsa stolen days earlier was recovered nearby.

A search of Kaid’s home later found a stolen Macbook, on which Kaid had changed the profile name on the device to “Robin Banks”.

They were both charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal motor vehicles along with Birch.

Detectives also found a picture of Gordon asleep in a stolen vehicle. (West Midlands Police)
Detectives also found a picture of Gordon asleep in a stolen vehicle. (West Midlands Police)

The trio all pleaded guilty.

Birch, Gordon and Kaid were jailed for five years four months, five years, and four years 10 months respectively.

Detective Constable Darren Barnes, of West Midlands Police, said: “These individuals were causing a lot of misery to residents across Sandwell, Dudley and further afield and people can certainly sleep more soundly knowing that they have been put behind bars for a significant period of time.”

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