CCTV reveals ram raids as gang jailed for £4.5m smash and seize spree

William Connors, 29, Darren Eastaugh, 36, Anthony Rodwell, 33, and Sebastian Gnyp, 37, have been all tied to a collection of incidents the place stolen luxurious autos have been used to smash into industrial properties.

Cash machines have been ripped out, jewelry snatched, and money packing containers stolen earlier than the criminals fled.

CCTV captured the surprising moments Land Rovers and Range Rovers have been reversed at velocity by way of the entrance of the retailers, earlier than thieves on foot entered to gather the property.

Withnail and I star Grant revealed in December 2021 that his automotive has been stolen and used to ram-raid a Tesco Express in Hanworth, west London, whereas he was caught in a quarantine resort.

“Woken at 4am – police called to report that my car had been stolen and used to ram-raid a Tesco Express! Like my pal @EricIdle is won’t [sic] to warble ’ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE!’” he wrote on Twitter.

At Isleworth crown courtroom, the 4 defendants admitted involvement in a complete of 14 burglaries and 33 thefts in addition to three tried burglaries and an tried theft.

The break-ins occurred between 14 November 2021 to 19 August 2022 at areas in north and west London, Dorset, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire.

Three of the lads have been caught by Met Police officers throughout a money field raid at an Esso petrol station and Tesco Express outlet in Reading on August 19 final 12 months.

The fourth man, Gnyp, was arrested the next month as detectives pieced collectively the proof.

Scotland Yard mentioned the estimated worth of the thefts was greater than £1.2 million and harm precipitated to autos and property totalled £1.8 million. Business house owners who was compelled to close for repairs put their losses at nearly £1.5 million.

At sentencing on Thursday, Connors, from Hayes, west London, and Eastaugh, of Feltham, have been jailed for six years and 6 months every.

Rodwell, who lives in Ashford, Surrey, was jailed for 5 years and ten months and Gynp, of Ealing, was jailed for 3 years.

“Footage of the burglaries demonstrates the ruthlessness in which the men used the cars as battering rams to access shops tills and cash machines”, mentioned Detective Constable Pippa Bregazzi, from the Met’s Flying Squad.

“They had absolutely no thought for the victims of their crimes and it was clear they would have continued to target vehicle owners and shops across the south of England unless they were stopped.

“I am glad they have now been brought to justice and will spend a lengthy time in jail.”