CCTV shows ‘ruthless’ raiders ripping cash machines out of shops, post offices and a hospital as they are ordered to pay back £200,000
- The gang tied cargo straps around ATMs and yanked them out using vehicles
- They carried out 11 raids between March 2018 and Jan 2019 in West Midlands
- CCTV footage shows gang carrying out reconnaissance trips in broad daylight
- Gang ringleader, who had 19 previous convictions, left DNA at the scene
- Police caught up with them in early 2019 using forensics and phone analysis
CCTV footage reveals the operations of ‘ruthless’ raiders who ripped cash machines from shops and even a hospital before being busted by police – and now, they have been ordered to pay back more than £200,000.
The crooks tied cargo straps around ATMs before yanking them out using vehicles with cloned number plates or wheeling them to getaway cars on trollies.
Between March 2018 to January 2019 the gang carried out 11 brazen raids while attempting several others across the West Midlands.
West Midlands Police have released CCTV footage showing the modus operandi of a five-man gang that operated between March 2018 to January 2019, tearing ATMs from walls. They have now been ordered to pay back more than £200,000 of their ill-gotten gains
Five members of the gang were jailed for more than 31 years at Birmingham Crown Court after they admitted conspiracy to commit commercial burglary.
Now they have been ordered to pay back more than £200,000 of their ill-gotten gains following a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
The criminals must pay the compensation to the cash machine operators within three months or their jail terms will be increased.
After ripping the ATMs out using cargo straps and vehicles, the gang members would wheel them to getaway vehicles on trolleys
The gang left ‘a trail of destruction which left victims facing huge bills’ – although no one was hurt during the 11 raids
The confiscation orders were secured by police at Birmingham Crown Court last week against four of the five convicted.
Ring leader Craig Matthews, 44, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, must pay almost £160,000 or his eight year and seven month sentence will be increased by a year and nine months.
Charlie Ward, 29, of Tile Hill, Coventry, must pay £21,000 otherwise his five year sentence will increase by 12 months.
Shane Stajsavlijevic, 38, of Henley Green, Coventry, was told to pay just over £17,500 or his seven years and two months prison terms increases by 10 months.
Kenneth Bourne, 41, of Fillongley, Warwickshire, must pay £8,300 or his six year sentence increases by six months.
The court heard previously how the gang first used cutting equipment to break into a Spar supermarket in Tamworth, Staffordshire, before ripping out the cash machine.
They later cut bollards to get into Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park, where they dragged a cash machine from the Midlands Arts Centre.
Ring leader Craig Matthews, who has 19 previous convictions spanning 49 offences, was spotted on CCTV carrying out reconnaissance missions in broad daylight – sizing up the ATMs
Five days later, the gang destroyed the inside of a Post Office in Lichfield to drag the cash machine through it after taping over CCTV cameras.
They also entered Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital before loading an ATM onto a trolley and walking out, past members of the public.
And security guards had to dodge out of the way of their van after they were disturbed at a cash and carry in Birmingham.
West Midlands Police used CCTV, forensics and phone analysis to bring the gang down, particularly once they were forced to abandon a getaway Transit van.
Fingerprints left on a trolley they had dumped at one crime scene helped detectives identify the crooks.
Craig Matthews, 44, and Kenneth Bourne, 41, must pay £160,000 and £8,300, respectively
Shane Stajsavlijevic, 38, and Charlie Ward, 29, must pay back £17,500 and £21,000, respectively
Ringleader Craig Matthews, who has 19 previous convictions spanning 49 offences, left his DNA on a piece of tape used to cover cameras in Lichfield.
He was also forensically linked to a registration plate on one of the vans.
Police uncovered CCTV of him examining a cash machine while unsuspecting passengers went about their business at Rugby train station.
They were arrested at the beginning of 2019 and went on to admit conspiracy to commit commercial burglary.
Detective Chief Inspector Annie Miller said at the time: ‘This was sophisticated organised crime which showed a huge amount of planning.
‘While no one was hurt during the spree, the gang left a trail of destruction which left victims facing huge bills.
‘Thanks to great police work, we were able to build up a detailed picture of the gang, their vehicles, reconnaissance and movements.
‘We’re continuing to work with the cash machine industry to help increase security to reduce the risk of them being targeted by criminals in this way in the future.’
Source: Read Full Article
