Yahoo News Gang who nicknamed themselves 'Sticky Bandits' in Home Alone nod left cruel Xmas message for victim
A group of heartless thieves left a message in spray paint for one of their victims to find. The gang of five men targeted ten businesses during their crime spree which cost them around £2.6million.
Adam Shakespeare, David Smith, Lee Fletcher, Royston Hallard and David Williams hit a number of them during the Christmas period in the hopes that the area would be quiet. This led to them nicknaming themselves the 'Sticky Bandits' after the two burglars in festive movie Home Alone.
At one address, they left a message in spray paint which read 'Merry Xmas' and 'happy New Year.' A few steps away, 'Ha Ha Ha' was written as they mocked their victims.
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The group went on to admit conspiracy to burgle commercial premises between December 2022 and June last year. Shakespeare, 31, of Harrowby Road was jailed for six years and five months.
Smith, 36, of Cannock Road was jailed for six years and four months. Fletcher, aged 33, of Bunkers Hill Lane was jailed for six years and four months.
Hallard, 30, of Coronation Road was jailed for six years and four months and Williams, 44, of Willenhall Road was jailed for three years and four months. Video footage has been released which shows some of the masked men laugh and joke as they rob one of their targets.
The gang used the businesses' own equipment to steal items including metal and other goods. One vehicle ended up on its side as they made their way out of a premises.
Ten firms in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall, Bilston, Perry Barr, Brierley Hill, Kidderminster, Tamworth and Shrewsbury were hit with a total loss of £1.6million.
Costs to the businesses were estimated at £200,000, while the loss of sales, the cost of beefing up security and increased insurance premiums amounted to over £800,000 making the total cost around £2.6million.
Footage released by police shows a number of homes being raided and gang members arrested. Following the sentencing, West Midlands Police DC Kelly Whyte said: "This was serious, organised and professional criminality on an industrial scale, that saw the theft of materials and vehicles valued at more than £1.6m, not to mention the disruption to business and emotional impact on those affected.
"They would focus on sites that were tucked away from houses, and struck over holiday periods when they knew the risk of them being disturbed was lower. The videos recovered from their mobile phones show how they relished what they were doing and would laugh and joke with each other."
She added: "When we identified similarities between the offences, we launched a major investigation based on forensics, analysis of mobile phones and CCTV which meant we were able to move in and arrest the gang in dawn raids last June.
"We’re pleased that they are now starting significant prison sentences, which should send a message to anyone involved in serious and organised crime that we will hunt them down and bring them to justice."
