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A number of serial burglars that targeted vehicles and homes access northwest England, as well as leaving handwritten notes mocking their victims, have been jailed.
The eight men, who belonged to two separate gangs, have been sentenced to between two and seven years in jail after committing a total of 39 burglaries in Prestbury, Wilmslow and Stockport in Greater Manchester, England.
Greater Manchester Police said five of the men committed 13 burglaries and stole 15 vehicles at a value of £347,000 ($444,000) between September and November 2018.
The second group committed 11 burglaries in Prestbury and Wilmslow, as well as 11 in Stockport.
The men were able to steal 12 cars and replace the registration plates using specialist equipment. The equipment used by the gang was later seized by police following the arrest.
At one address in Wilmslow, the men left a handwritten note which read: "thanks for the free stuff, yours sincerely the 'midnight removals.'"
Expensive jewelry and other items were taken during the burglary, including a men's Omega watch and a Hugo Boss bag.
The men broke into the homes by snapping the locks off doors or smashing window panes. One on occasion, they were able to retrieve car keys left on a kitchen table by using an extendable washing line pole.
Police were able to identify the burglars using surveillance footage, as well as tracing phone calls and text message conversations.
One of the men, Dale Higgins, was part of both criminal gangs and received the longest jail term.
Following their sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday, October 14, Detective Constable Rob Shakespeare of the Stockport division said in a statement: "The investigation encompassed 39 burglary offenses by two organized criminal teams working on a massive and industrial scale.
"They targeted high-value vehicles for sale to third parties giving no thought to the impact they had on families whose house they entered and property they stole.
"Although they thought they had planned their burglaries well, in reality they left evidence behind and a trail of clues for police officers to follow.
"Thanks to a joint investigation with Cheshire police who we could not have secured today's sentences without, another group of criminals are behind bars."
Full sentencing:
• Reece Goodall, 24, of Stockport, was sentenced to five years and six months after being found guilty of 17 counts of burglary.
• Dale Higgins, 24, of Stockport, was sentenced to seven years and one month after being found guilty of nine counts of burglary and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
• Kurtis Rowe, 22, of Stockport, was sentenced to five years after being found guilty of 22 counts of burglary.
• Robson McCabe, 23, of Stockport, was sentenced to four years and six months after being found guilty of nine counts of burglary.
• Harry Mulgrew, 25, of Stockport, was sentenced to three years after being found guilty of six counts of burglary and possession of CS gas.
• Reece McCracken, 22, of Stockport, was sentenced to two years after being found guilty of five counts of burglary.
• Dale Driver, 26, of Manchester, was sentenced to two years and eight months after being found guilty of one burglary.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more