Two crooks locked up for swiping car parts
The pair tried to run from police after being caught red-handed
APAIR of thieves who tried to run from the police when stolen catalytic converters were found in their boot have been jailed.
Seamus Maughan, 38, and Terence Mongan, 45, both of Warrington Road, Runcorn, were foiled after officers pounced on reports that men in a green Toyota Avensis had removed converters from parked cars in Padgate and Grappenhall in Warrington on the afternoon of Friday, October 16.
A Cheshire Police spokesman said a search found the car at Gemini Retail Park at around 8.30pm.
The duo tried to run away but were caught and two stolen catalytic converters, along with thieves’ tools, were found in the Toyota’s boot.
Maughan and Mongan refused to answer questions in police custody.
Having been caught red-handed, they pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from a motor vehicle and one of going equipped for theft.
Maughan also admitted to driving while disqualified.
At Chester Crown Court on Tuesday last week, Maughan was sentenced to 32 months in prison and Mongan to 30 months.
Maughan was banned from driving for four years and they must each pay a £190 victim surcharge.
Following their hearing, Detective Sergeant Tom Hall, of the Warrington Beat Initiative Team, said: “I would like to thank the members of the public who supplied us with the information we needed to locate the Toyota Avensis, recover the stolen catalytic converters and bring Seamus Maughan and Terence Mongan to justice.
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“They are now behind bars facing the consequences of their actions, and I hope that this case deters others from attempting to steal catalytic converters in Warrington or anywhere else in Cheshire.”
David Keane, the police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, said: “It must be a very upsetting experience to discover that the catalytic converter has been stolen from your car by opportunist thieves.
“As the police and crime commissioner for the county, I know that Cheshire Constabulary is doing all that it can to tackle this increasingly common form of crime.
“I would like to congratulate the officers involved in this case for locating these offenders within hours of the thefts and for subsequently gathering enough evidence to secure the convictions.”
Inspector Anton Sullivan, of Cheshire Constabulary’s Roads and Crime Unit, also welcomed the sentence.
He said: “Catalytic converter thefts are on the rise across the country, with offenders predominantly targeting hybrid vehicles.
“I would like to reassure residents that we take reports of catalytic converter thefts extremely seriously and investigate them accordingly.
“This case is just one of many examples of us reacting swiftly to information supplied by members of the public regarding catalytic converter thefts and carrying out an extensive investigation in a bid to secure justice for the victims. Offenders use specialist tools to remove catalytic converters from vehicles.
“Car owners can play a significant role in tackling catalytic converter thefts by being vigilant, reviewing any security measures they have in place and calling the police on 101 as soon as possible if they see anyone removing catalytic converters or acting suspiciously in car parks, on driveways or anywhere else where vehicles are left.
“In addition, we urge scrap metal dealers to be mindful if they are ever offered catalytic converters or exhaust systems and to contact us if they suspect that they could have been stolen.”