Teenage carjacking gang behind bars after stealing dozens of cars
SEVEN YOUTHS WREAKED HAVOC ON CITY STREETS AROUND THE MIDLANDS
A GANG of teenagers who committed a string of violent carjackings and house break-ins in Coventry and Warwickshire have been locked up. Seven teens, led by Jordan Jones, 19, and Jamoye Simpson, 19, stole dozens of high-performance cars in the West Midlands between December 2020 and December 2021.
CCTV released by West Midlands Police shows the moment they boxed in and arrested four members of the gang after a 40-mile pursuit that reached speeds of 132mph. Officers found Jones driving an Audi A3 on November 23 last year, stolen from a home in Oldbury minutes earlier.
He was with a 16-year-old in the car and they were in convoy with two more 16-year-olds in a stolen
VW Golf. Jones dumped the Audi in single-lane roadworks in a bid to block officers, as all four made off in their getaway car but were soon caught on the A435, reports Birminghamlive.
Just a week earlier, the gang were linked to a nasty carjacking in Gilmorton Close in Harborne when a man was attacked on his drive. He tried to fight them off but was outnumbered and thrown to the floor when he tried to grab one of the thieves from behind the wheel of his car.
Officers recovered the BMW from
behind flats in Acocks Green and later found messages on the thieves’ phones, asking where to find a tracker on a BMW M3. Further CCTV released shows the teens tiptoeing through the lounge of a home in Solihull on October 4 last year before swiping the keys to an Audi RS6.
Officers investigating the case then disovered the gang also involved Jamoye Simpson and two more 16-year-olds. Simpson was arrested on October 17, shortly after a BMW 3-Series was stolen from a burglary in Coventry.
It later crashed in Weoley Castle after being spotted and pursued by a patrol unit. Simpson and a 16-yearold were arrested running from the scene. Detectives were initially looking into 15 car thefts but as the investigation
developed and police examined the teens’ phones, they were linked to a staggering 97 offences.
On one occasion, the gang stole car keys (November 10-11) from a home in Knowle while the homeowner slept. Also in the early hours of November 11, they broke into a house in Hall Green and stole a Mini Cooper before cruelly squirting ketchup over the walls and throwing red wine over the carpets and sofa before leaving.
Members of the gang went on to steal a BMW M4 in Droitwich on November 22. Police later found an Instagram post showing two of the brazen 16-year-olds posing on the rear boot of the car.
Detective Sergeant Wayne Dudley of the Force Priorities Team, who led the investigation said: “It’s shocking that a group of largely children could be responsible for such a sizeable burglary and car theft conspiracy. Most of the vehicles were stolen by snapping door locks and forcing entry.
“Some car keys were taken while people slept, but the CCTV footage we’ve released shows they were prepared to confront victims and use violence. This was a really complex, detailed investigation involving seven offenders and at least 97 offences.
“CCTV, forensics, phone work and evidence downloaded from their mobiles helped us build a strong case. It’s real credit to the team of detectives here that we’ve secured successful prosecutions.”
All seven were charged with conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to rob, while Jones and the three teenagers involved in the pursuit were all charged with dangerous driving. All seven pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court in October and on Wednesday (November 16), Jones and Simpson along with three teenagers were sentenced.
Simpson, from Shakespear Crescent, Hockley, pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to burgle and sentenced to nine years and six months. Jones, from Shelfield Road, Kings Heath, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and was sentenced to four years and two months.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to burgle and was sentenced to four years and 11 months. A 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to burgle and was sentenced to four years and six months.
A 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months in prison but was released due to time served. Two further 16-year-old boys will be sentenced on December 1.
It’s shocking that a group of largely children could be responsible for such a sizeable burglary and car theft conspiracy Det Sgt Wayne Dudley