Police warn thieves are ‘coming to Stoke-on-Trent to take cars’

Thieves travelling to North Staffordshire to try to steal cars have been warned they’ll be met with drones, dogs and the force helicopter. It come as officers say they have identified ‘lots of offenders’ from the West Midlands heading into the county to target both cars and vans. But Staffordshire Police[1] have warned crooks they will be pursued ‘no matter where they go’.

It comes as figures have revealed how the force received 591 reports of vehicles being stolen between October and December. That came at a time when cops issued a warning to drivers over the dangers of leaving their vehicles to defrost as opportunist thieves struck all across North Staffordshire. While that did represent a stark drop on that period in the previous year, when there were 794, detectives have acknowledged the ongoing issue around vehicle thefts in the county.

READ: These boarded-up Hanley flats still can’t be knocked down – here’s why | Stoke-on-Trent City Council wants to acquire the two flats to allow the block to be bulldozed[2] READ: Cash-strapped council writes off GBP1.8m of ‘irrecoverable’ debt | The write-offs approved by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2023/24 include GBP839,982 in unpaid council tax[3] While there would appear to be organised thieves targeting cars and vans, there are also youths seemingly trying to take cars.

Earlier this year and boys aged 13, 14 and 15 were arrested after a car was dumped in a North Staffordshire field.[4] Responding to questions around vehicle thefts put to them by StokeonTrentLive, the force has said suspects can be ‘any age’ and operate alone or as part of a more organised group. One such example of a more sophisticated approach rather than ‘joy riding’ was seen in November when a ‘chop-shop’ was busted in Stafford.[5][6]

Police in Meir after a stolen Jeep was spotted

Various dismantled Land Rovers were found alongside a Jaguar and Ford Transit van.

At the time the force, who had worked alongside West Midlands Police on the sting, found more than GBP250,000 worth of stolen cars. That criminal operation falls into the category where vehicles, regardless of age or condition, are stripped down and parts sold for profits. Nationally and last year there were reports around the country of the issue of cars also being ‘stolen to order’ and subsequently shipped abroad.

Work done by the county constabulary under the ongoing Operation Bormus, which was launched in June 2022 to target vehicle theft, has seen hotspot areas regularly patrolled with the aim of stopping an offence before it takes place. Once it has taken place there have been scores of examples of vehicles either being dumped or chased by cops. Since the launch of Bormus there have been more than 120 arrests and over 50 suspects charged.

The crackdown has seen neighbourhood officers link in the force’s dedicated roads policing unit and Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) who patrol key routes such as the M6 and A500.

Suspected chop-shop in Stafford (Image: Staffordshire Police)

Between July last year and February, the force had arrested 22 burglars who’d gone in looking for a car key. It comes as the force continues to work with neighbouring forces, notably West Midlands Police, to stop criminals travelling in to offend. Detective Inspector David Rowlands oversees Operation Bormus.

He said: “We don’t underestimate the profound impact that vehicle theft can have on people, businesses and livelihoods. The only way we’re going to continue making progress in this area is by being proactive. We want to identify more of the individuals and organised groups taking vehicles and target them robustly.

Anyone who sees someone acting suspiciously or thinks their vehicle is being targeted by thieves is encouraged to report it to us as soon as they can. We’re going to target them, follow them and take the appropriate action to bring them to justice.” In the year ending September 2023, there were 5,818 ‘vehicle offences’ in Staffordshire which can range from a car being taken to someone breaking into it and stealing an item.

Community leaders have backed the ongoing work around vehicle crime in Staffordshire.

The police helicopter

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime Ben Adams said: “I welcome Staffordshire Police’s focus on tackling vehicle theft proactively, both in conjunction with other forces and through the work of the Operation Bormus team. I know vehicle crime is a major cause of concern for many of our communities – having your car stolen can cause significant disruption for individuals, while for smaller businesses, the loss of a van full of tools can directly impact on people’s livelihoods. We can all play a part in helping to drive down vehicle crime, whether that’s taking a few simple steps to protect our own vehicles or reporting any concerns about suspicious activity.”

Anyone with concerns over vehicle crime should call the force on 101. Want more court and crime news? Sign up to our court and crime newsletter here[7]

References

1. ^ Staffordshire Police (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
2. ^ These boarded-up Hanley flats still can’t be knocked down – here’s why | Stoke-on-Trent City Council wants to acquire the two flats to allow the block to be bulldozed (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
3. ^ Cash-strapped council writes off GBP1.8m of ‘irrecoverable’ debt | The write-offs approved by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2023/24 include GBP839,982 in unpaid council tax (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
4. ^ were arrested after a car was dumped in a North Staffordshire field. (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
5. ^ was seen in November when a ‘chop-shop’ was busted (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
6. ^ Stafford. (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
7. ^ Want more court and crime news?

   Sign up to our court and crime newsletter here (data.reachplc.com)