A wannabe car thief was foiled when his smash-and-grab burglary was caught on camera. Adam Lamb, 23, and another man forced their way into a house in the Dam Lane area of Warrington and swiped a set of keys for a BMW at around 1:20am on February 6 this year.
The men got into the BMW and drove off, forcing another car off the driveway as they made their escape. However, the owner of the BMW had noticed what was happening and used their phone to film the crime taking place.
Tracker Leads Police to Suspects
The victim subsequently contacted Cheshire Police and provided officers with the footage of the vehicle being stolen. They also informed them that the BMW was fitted with a tracking device and was now travelling in the direction of Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Cheshire Police notified colleagues from Greater Manchester Police of the burglary and requested assistance in locating the BMW. An officer from GMP later located the stolen vehicle parked in an alleyway, with two men wearing balaclavas standing around it. Upon being spotted by the officer, the men got back into the BMW and sped away.
High-Speed Chase and Arrest
Following a short pursuit, in which the vehicle was exhibited travelling at over 100mph in a 30mph zone, the BMW crashed with a parked car and a wall. The men exited the car and ran away, and were caught and arrested a short time later. Lamb was found in possession of a quantity of cash and the keys to both the BMW and the house it was taken from.
In interview with officers at Runcorn custody, Lamb claimed he was not involved in the burglary and just so happened to be in the vehicle at the time of the offence, having been picked up by another driver.
Evidence Overwhelms Denials
However, a phone belonging to Lamb that he had dropped following the decampment had been located by officers. Phone data revealed that the device had taken an identical journey to that of the BMW, connecting him to the theft. Crime scene investigation officers also identified a footprint in the kitchen of the burgled house that provided a positive match for the shoe Lamb was wearing at the time.
Lamb, of Devonshire Road, Rochdale, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday July 3, where he was jailed for 30 months. He had pleaded guilty to the burglary of a dwelling and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.
Police Praise Cross-Border Cooperation
Detective Constable Rebecca Jubb, of CID Proactive North, said: "Burglary is a deeply personal crime and can leave victims feeling unsafe and insecure in their own homes, which is why, when burglars do strike, officers do all they can to achieve justice for victims. In 2025, the force climbed four places and ranked seventh in the country for achieving charges and summons for burglary offenders, meaning we are getting justice for more victims than ever."
"Despite claiming he had no involvement in the crime, the overwhelming amount of evidence that our officers secured left Adam Lamb with no choice but to plead guilty. It took officers just 35 minutes from the moment the burglary took place to both suspects being tracked down and brought into police custody. This is a great example of cross-border forces coming together with a common goal in mind, and I would like to thank our colleagues from Greater Manchester Police for their assistance."
