Gang from Leicestershire stole cash machines in raids across country

Organised crime gang members who looted almost £500,000 from shop cash machines were jailed yesterday.

Acting in teams, the professional villains used specialist apparatus to crack open the cashpoints, before making off in high-speed cars.

Mainly targeting Co-op stores, they committed 17 burglaries around the country – including four in Leicestershire – between March and November 2008.

They worked against the clock, evading the police for months. In their wake, they left almost £250,000 worth of destruction, including fire damage to many stores.

At Leicester Crown Court, 12 of the team admitted their part in varying roles.
The gang from Leicestershire struck with almost military precision as they stole cash machines in night-time raids at stores across the country.

After smashing their way in with crowbars, they used sophisticated cutting equipment described as “a bespoke ATM burgling kit” to rip out the machines. Some contained between £70,000 and £84,000,the court heard.

David Herbert, prosecuting, said the gang of 13 operated in two separate teams – some were more involved than others – as 17 outlets were targeted during 2008 in eight counties.

Ricky Downes, 28, was involved in a raid at Glenfield Co-op when £71,860 was taken on March 24.

Mr Herbert said: “It was done using oxyacetylene burning equipment which shows how efficiently it was done.”

He said Downes was initially arrested three days later at East Midlands Airport, before he could jet off to Spain on holiday.

He was linked to an address in Woodland Drive, Braunstone, where a concealed safe was found sunken into a concrete floor in a shed. It contained £43,000 and the keys to a Subaru vehicle used in the raids.

The vehicle, which was kept at another address, contained two gas cylinders, two fire extinguishers and cutting equipment, crowbars and a pair of welder’s goggles, with Downes’ DNA on it.

Mr Herbert said: “It was a bespoke ATM burgling kit. It’s safe to assume Downes was the person doing the cutting at Glenfield and thereafter.”

But Downes was granted bail at the time – and continued to offend – because he had an excuse for having the equipment: a job in 2006 that needed oxyacetylene equipment, working as a salvage operator.

“For that reason he was released on bail and chose to continue offending.”

He was also linked to a storage facility at Dawson’s Yard, near Coalville, where other cutting equipment and tools were found.

Mr Herbert said: “Detection was possible because of a number of different categories of evidence.” mobile phone evidence linked the defendants with each other and to the crime scenes. Surveillance and DNA evidence also played a part.

The court heard getaway cars, and back-up vehicles, were stolen, and their number plates changed, shortly before a raid. The court heard £78,920 was taken on June 1 from a cashpoint in Earls Barton, Northamptonshire.

Two days later the gang failed to steal anything during a raid at Broughton Astley Post Office and store.

A haul of £14,540 was taken from a store in Tean, Staffordshire, and £84,600 in Heckington, Lincolnshire.

They then took £20,120 from a store in Spalding and £57,850 at Woodhouse Spa, both Lincolnshire.

A cash machine holding £10,330 went from Fleckney Co-op in Leicestershire.

In Cheshire, three stores were raided and machines containing £44,000, £44,690 and £18,000 taken.

Two attempts were made, one in Cambridgeshire and another in Exeter.

Despite the first team, including Downes, being arrested and remanded into custody, the second team committed raids from September to November.

Mr Herbert said police had both teams under surveillance and foiled a burglary in Cambridgeshire, where a fire took hold.

Mark Underwood, who has a previous conviction for causing death by driving recklessly after a burglary, attempted to drive off from a car park but ended up crashing into three police cars which blocked him in.

The second team eventually came unstuck in Exeter and arrests followed.

Satellite navigation systems taken from two of the gangs cars showed they were targeting other Co-op stores throughout the country and South Wales.

Mr Herbert said: “They simply weren’t going to stop until they were caught.”

After his arrest, Mark Underwood was heard giving a coded message on the phone about recovering money, which led police to discover £20,000 buried near conifer trees near junction 21 of the M1 motorway.

Judge Simon Hammond said: “Just short of half-a-million pounds was stolen and damage just short of a quarter of a million pounds was caused during 17 burglary offences in eight counties.

“Two teams were used, no doubt to evade detection, usually three inside and two outside.

“They operated very quickly, because once the alarms were activated the police would be on their way.”

“Oxyacetylene cutting equipment was used and for every offence they were hoping to get £75,000 and were playing for big money.”

After the case, Leicestershire Police said they were delighted to put the gang behind bars., revealing one of the convicted criminals had used his ill-gotten gains to go and see a Ricky Hatton fight in Las Vegas.

However, he was met at the airport by American authorities who put him on the first plane back to England, where he was arrested by detectives.

Superintendent Phil Smith said: “To say this was a huge enquiry was an understatement. “We hope the convictions provides local people and local businesses the reassurance the people responsible for a huge proportion of these crimes are now behind bars.”

Gang members: Offences and sentences

Jamie Sylvester (25), Glenhills Boulevard, Eyres Monsell - admitted burglary in Exeter. Sentenced to four years and five months

Simon Bird (34), Cotley Road, Mowmacre Hill, Leicester – admitted burglaries in Cheshire, Exeter. Six years.

Anthony Underwood (32), Federation Street, Enderby – found guilty of burglaries in Staffordshire and Lincolnshire. Seven years

Craig Jones (35), Woodshawe Rise, Braunstone, Leicester – admitted burglaries in Cambridgeshire. Four years

Lee Faulkner (31), Buddon Close, Beaumont Leys, Leicester – admitted burglaries in Gloucester, Lincolnshire, Cheshire, Exeter. Six years

Glenn Morris (27), Ambleside Drive, Eyres Monsell – admitted burglaries in Desborough, Broughton Astley, Staffordshire, Fleckney. Six years and eight months

Mark Wayne Underwood (27), Littlegarth, Saffron Lane Estate, Leicester – admitted burglaries in Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Fleckney. Also admitted dangerous driving. Seven years and eight months

Ricky Gene Downes (28), Mount Road, Cosby – admitted burglaries in Cambridgeshire, Glenfield, Staffordshire, Fleckney. Six years and two months

Oliver Gent (30), Slade Close, Thorpe Astley, Leicester – admitted burglaries in Gloucestershire, Macclesfield, Cheshire. Five years and four months

Thomas Calvert (25), Elm Tree Avenue, Glenfield – Admitted burglaries in Gloucester, Houghton on the Hill, Spalding, Woodhall Spa. Six years

Robert Rourke (32), Bluegates, Beaumont Leys, Leicester – admitted burglaries in Houghton on the Hill, Spalding, Gloucestershire, Cheshire, Macclesfield, Exeter. Eight years

Shane Underwood (29), Stanton Row, Saffron Lane Estate, – admitted burglaries in Houghton on the Hill, Spalding, Cheshire, Exeter. Eight years

Sean Underwood (19), Denman Lane, Huncote – admitted burglary in Exeter. Three years detention
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