Three members of a burglary gang have been jailed after West Midlands Police linked them to stolen cars valued at half a million pounds.

Kieran Gordon, Joshua Birch and Imad Kaid snapped door locks to force their way into at least 16 homes – mainly in Sandwell and Dudley – between February and September 2017 on the hunt for keys to high-value cars.

The trio – aged 22, 22 and 21 respectively – made off with more than 20 cars, often new Audi, Mercedes and Range Rover models, during the overnight raids in quiet residential streets and cul-de-sacs.

Many of the cars were later recovered by West Midlands Police, including a Nissan Juke taken from outside a home in Lynbrook Close, Netherton, in the early hours of 24 April and seized following a pursuit three days later.

The driver and passengers fled the vehicle but left behind vital evidence.

Officers found a holdall inside containing collectable comics – stolen during the theft of an Audi in Ribberford Close, Cradley, on 27 April – on which Gordon’s fingerprints were found, plus items stolen from St Joseph’s Close, Droitwich, on the same morning.

Birch, from Lea Bank Road in Netherton, was arrested on 28 April and when searched found in possession of an Audi key from the Cradley break-in – and images on his phone appeared to show Gordon asleep in the Nissan Juke.

He was bailed but re-arrested on 25 May and Gordon, from Mill Road in Cradley Heath, also detained on 1 June for questioning as detectives tightened their grip on the group and began amassing evidence.

Gordon and Kaid, from Coleman Hill Avenue, Colley, were then arrested on the night of 21 November after West Midlands Police responded to reports of a break-in attempt in Hagley Road West, Quinton. 

They were stopped in Kaid’s A3 driving away from the scene – and a Vauxhall Corsa stolen from an address in Stamford Road, Stourbridge, days earlier was recovered nearby. 

A search of Kaid’s home later uncovered a Macbook stolen during a burglary in Park Road West, Wollaston, overnight on 4-5 May. Officers found Kaid had changed the profile name on the device to “Robin Banks”.

They were both charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal motor vehicles along with Birch who was arrested again on 5 December.

In the face of compelling evidence, the trio all admitted playing a part in the conspiracies and at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (11 Jan), Birch, Gordon and Kaid were jailed for five years four months, five years, and four years 10 months respectively. Investigating officer, West Midlands Police Detective Constable Darren Barnes, said:

“We linked a total of 17 break-ins to some or all of these three but we suspect they may have been involved in considerably more.

“Their tactic was to snap locks on rear doors in the middle of the night and to sneak into properties to steal keys. No-one was hurt but the trauma of knowing someone has been in your house while you’re sleeping can’t be underestimated – and some victims woke to find their cars being driven off by the gang.

“These individuals were causing a lot of misery to residents across Sandwell, Dudley and further afield and people can certainly sleep more soundly knowing that they have been put behind bars for a significant period of time.”