Three men from Redbridge jailed for stealing high-value vehicles in a criminal gang
Equipment used to ring cars - Credit: Archant
Three men from Redbridge along with eight other gang members were jailed for a total of 48 years for their involvement in stealing high-value vehicles across London.
Rayhan Namajee - Credit: Archant
Under Operation Repsolda, officers from the Organised Vehicle Crime Unit launched an investigation into the gang, who were responsible for stealing vehicles such as BMW 5 and 6 Series and Range Rovers to order, before altering their identities to make them appear legitimate- a process known as ringing.
Close co-operation between the Metropolitan Police Service and the DVLA resulted in a large number of fraudulent logbook applications being identified and blocked.
Detectives also recovered more than 40 stolen vehicles that had been rung, with a total value of around £1.5 million.
Mohammed Sheraz, 29 of Capel Gardens, Ilford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conceal/disguise/convert/remove criminal property and was sentenced to six years.
Mohammed Sheraz - Credit: Archant
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Rayhan Namajee, 32 of Felbrigge Road, Ilford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conceal/disguise/convert/remove criminal property and was sentenced to five years and four months
Nasar Sharif, 34 of Perry Close, Barkingside pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and was sentenced to three years.
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All three men were sentenced at Southwark Crown Court.
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Peter Ellis, said: “These individuals were well organised and employed sophisticated methods, both to steal the vehicles and to change their identities.
Nasar Sharif - Credit: Archant
“They were ultimately responsible for the theft of a substantial number of high value vehicles, worth millions of pounds and they have been brought to justice as a result of a joint working approach between the DVLA and the Organised Vehicle Crime Unit.
“We will continue to work together to disrupt criminal groups in future.”
