Theft victim’s 19 stolen cars

A CROOK who reported his Porsche stolen was nabbed when police found he was hiding 19 stolen cars worth over £700,000.

Chirag Patel, convicted at Croydon crown court of conspiracy to handle stolen goods, had £440,000 of unexplained deposits.

Acting Det Sgt Billy Clough said: “Patel played the leading role in a sophisticated operation to handle high-value, stolen vehicles.” Patel, 39, of Croydon, South London, was jailed for eight years.