Social Media Evidence Key in Conviction of Brazen Car Theft Ring Operating in West Midlands
A sophisticated car theft operation targeting luxury vehicles across Birmingham and Solihull has been dismantled following a police investigation that uncovered the gang's extensive use of social media to document their crimes. Four men were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on September 18 after pleading guilty to conspiring to steal motor vehicles. The group, consisting of Waqar Khan, Harris Haroon, Mohammed Akleem Ali, and Bilal Khan, operated between January and July 2024, stealing more than 40 vehicles, primarily targeting BMWs and other expensive models.
The investigation revealed that the gang employed systematic methods to identify and steal vehicles while loitering in streets and car parks. Waqar Khan used his personal black BMW both to stake out potential targets and as a getaway vehicle, creating a pattern that eventually helped police link the group to multiple thefts. A key breakthrough came when a Toyota Hilux equipped with a tracking device was stolen from a Holliday Street car park on June 20, allowing authorities to monitor the vehicle's movement to James Street in Tyseley and subsequently identify the perpetrators through CCTV footage.
Evidence presented in court showed the defendants frequently documented their criminal activities through photos and videos shared on WhatsApp and Snapchat. The digital trail included footage of the group performing wheel spins and doughnuts in stolen cars, posing beside the vehicles, and even recording the theft process itself. Investigators also discovered that the gang shared screenshots of Facebook posts made by victims reporting their stolen vehicles, using the information to monitor police recovery efforts and test whether vehicles contained tracking devices.
The gang's criminal enterprise extended beyond simple theft to include attempted extortion of victims. Court documents revealed that the defendants would contact vehicle owners, demanding thousands of pounds for the return of their own property, with one instance involving a demand for £4,000. When vehicles contained tracking devices, the group would remove them and install their own monitoring equipment. The operation concluded in July 2024 when all four men were arrested, with their phones and car theft equipment seized as evidence, leading to their eventual conviction and sentencing.
