A criminal gang that stole nearly £700,000 from cash machines across the UK has been jailed, days after they boasted that police had 'nothing concrete' on them. The group carried out nine heists on banks and stores using angle grinders and 'jaws of life' tools, often ramming reinforced flatbed trucks into businesses to grab cash before fleeing in high-performance cars with fake number plates.
The gang targeted shops and banks, including Co-op stores, in Bedfordshire, Manchester, Cumbria, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire and Somerset. A WhatsApp message recorded just 11 days before their arrest showed members confident they would evade capture. Noel Reilly, 46, was heard saying: 'They just need the last bit of evidence because they haven’t got anything for anyone concrete. We’re not stupid enough mate.'
However, police had gathered CCTV footage and other evidence, including the gang buying clothes for the raids. The criminals were finally caught on August 11 last year after being tracked to two holiday properties in Cumbria. They had already stolen £128,000 from three cash machines in the area and were transporting a stolen Audi on a low loader truck when arrested.
Alongside Reilly, Simon Pagett, 43, and Craig Howell, 44, were found to have planned the raids and sourced tools and stolen vehicles. Daniel Hickenbottom, 38, transported vehicles before and after heists, while Oliver Matthews, 39, owned a respray shop used to store getaway cars. All five men either admitted or were convicted of conspiracy to burgle, handling stolen goods, and possessing criminal property.
Detective Sergeant Tom Frenchum said: 'A huge amount of planning and preparation went into these offences and the gang showed a high level of sophistication throughout, but our detectives worked tirelessly to disrupt them and now put them behind bars.'
