Two men have been sentenced to four years and three months in prison for a large-scale car 'cannibalism' operation in Birmingham. Mohammed Khan and Mohammed Haydar, both aged 23, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal from motor vehicles at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, June 26. The pair stripped bumpers, bonnets, wheel trims, and headlights from cars across the city, causing an estimated £500,000 in total losses.
Social Media Bragging Leads to Arrest
West Midlands Police (WMP) said the duo filmed themselves stealing car parts and posted the videos on social media. In one clip, Khan is heard bragging: "This is the way to live, eh?" while Haydar grins alongside. The criminals also photographed the stripped vehicles, boasting about their actions. Police used the footage, along with hundreds of hours of CCTV and forensic evidence, to identify the pair.
Impact on Birmingham City FC Fans
WMP worked closely with Birmingham City FC after fans reported cars being "cannibalised" while parked outside the club's St Andrew's stadium. In an impact statement read to the court, the club stated that victims often returned after matches to find "significant damage and theft," resulting in "substantial financial loss, inconvenience, recovery costs, insurance implications and considerable distress."
Crime Spree Spanning Nearly Two Years
The thefts occurred from December 2022 to October 2024, with the pair stripping vehicles within minutes. Detective Constable Choudhury, who led the investigation, said: "Both Haydar and Khan were meticulous in their offending. They carefully planned each theft that they carried out, where they would cause serious distress to their victims who were left with vehicles without parts." Khan pleaded guilty to 98 offences, while Haydar admitted to 20. Judge George Lubega noted that Haydar, though only involved in thefts worth £66,000, was a "leading player" in the conspiracy. The judge also highlighted that they offended while released on bail after multiple arrests.
Mitigation and Sentencing
Khan's counsel argued he showed remorse, while Haydar's lawyer said he stopped offending after getting married. Despite these pleas, both were sentenced to four years and three months. Det Cons Choudhury added: "Thankfully, we have been able to put together an extensive investigation which found both Haydar and Khan carried out almost 100 cannibalism offences, and now they will be spending time behind bars."
