A sophisticated criminal network has been dismantled after a brazen eight-month crime wave saw them steal luxury vehicles worth an estimated £2 million from driveways as their owners slept.
The Operation: A Highly Organised Blitz
The gang, described by police as highly organised, targeted 107 high-end cars between February and October 2023. Their spree stretched across three counties: Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire. Operating under the cover of darkness, the criminals used a clever yet alarming method to bypass modern security.
They employed off-the-shelf signal-boosting gadgets, readily available for purchase on platforms like Amazon, to amplify the signal from key fobs located inside victims' homes. This tricked the keyless cars into unlocking, believing the owner was standing right beside them.
The Leaders and Their Downfall
The ringleaders were identified as George Berry, 32, Benjamin Cross, 25, and Bradley Paddick, 22, all from Southampton. They would prowl affluent neighbourhoods, hunting for specific high-end models from brands like Land Rover, Jaguar, Mercedes, Audi, and Bentley. One of the most valuable cars taken was an £80,000 Bentley Continental.
After stealing the vehicles, the gang funnelled them to a chop shop in Surrey, where they were systematically stripped for parts. The operation was so extensive that 46 of the 107 stolen vehicles remain unrecovered, with the total value estimated at a staggering £2.09 million.
Sentencing and Police Warnings
At Southampton Crown Court, the three main defendants received substantial prison sentences. Benjamin Cross was jailed for 64 months, George Berry for 56 months, and Bradley Paddick for 36 months. Their partners, Rachael Moran and Charlotte Traves, were among eleven defendants sentenced and received suspended sentences.
Sentencing, Judge Nigel Peters KC highlighted the "huge distress and financial strain" caused to families who relied on their cars for daily life. Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Paul Beasley emphasised the "financial hurt" and "mental harm" inflicted on the victims.
Police are now urging all motorists with keyless entry systems to take immediate precautions. They recommend storing key fobs well away from doors and windows and, crucially, using Faraday pouches to block rogue signals. Officers confirmed they are in talks with manufacturers about this growing technological threat.
