Lithuanian men sentenced following large-scale theft of cars

09/07/2010

Three men have been sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court today for the large-scale theft of high value vehicles across the South East.

Lithuanian nationals Renatas Griskevicius, 31, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, Arenidas Petrauskas, 29, two and a half years' imprisonment and Vytautas Lairesvicius, 22, six years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to offences on 28th June at Canterbury Crown Court.

Renatas Griskevicius and Arenidas Petrauskas each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to steal. Vytautas Lairesvicius pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, conspiracy to steal and aggravated vehicle taking.

The organized gang broke into properties at night gaining access by drilling out or forcing door locks using cordless drills whilst the occupants were asleep. They targeted vehicles left out on residential driveways and stole them to order.

Between September 2009 and December 2009, the three men attacked properties in Kent, Surrey, Essex, Hertfordshire and the Metropolitan Policing Areas stealing cars with a total estimated value of £317,000.

They left the cars parked on the streets in London for a few days afterwards to establish if they were fitted with electronic tracking devices. If they were not collected they would be moved on.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Chris Mayo said:

"These men's actions involved premeditated professional planning; they targeted the victims whilst they were asleep leaving most feeling frightened and vulnerable in their own homes. They were not only responsible for the theft of vehicles, but people's possessions too.

"Due to the thoroughness of the Police investigation the strength of the evidence against them was overwhelming. We are pleased that this case has been brought to a successful conclusion and that these men will no longer be able to carry out their criminal activity."