‘Greedy’ Surrey crime gang stole luxury Rolls Royce, Bentley, and Alfa Romeo cars worth £3million

Four members of a Surrey gang who stole more than 50 luxury cars including Rolls Royce, Alfa Romeo, Bentley and Land Rover vehicles have been jailed. A court heard they targeted high value keyless cars across the south east in a year-long crime spree.

During the investigation, officers discovered how the organised crime gang used the “relay attack” technique – with a master device to copy the signal of the vehicle key. This was then transmitted it to a second smaller device, which replicated the key and unlocked the car.

A manual for a relay device was also found saved on a mobile phone seized from one of the defendants, Perry Lovejoy. Officers arrested the suspects on April 26 last year.

Investigators built a picture of their illegal activities through intelligence, forensics, ANPR, call data, witness testimony and CCTV enquiries. Police said the 53 vehicles were stolen, with a combined value of over £3.7 million.

All four men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and conspiracy to acquire criminal property. They were sentenced as follows:

Perry Lovejoy, 29, of Reigate Road in Horley, was sentenced to three years in prison
Luke Jackson, 28, of Shoreham Close in Croydon, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison
Billy Harrison, 30, of Tollers Lane in Coulsdon, was sentenced to three years behind bars
Harry Sales, 28, of Cornwall Road in Croydon, was sentenced to three years in prison

Jackson also had additional offences taken into consideration when sentenced after admitting his guilt in stealing a further 42 cars, with a combined value of £2.1 million. He was also sentenced for two offences of burglary committed whilst stealing four of the cars after pleading guilty. He received 18 months in prison to be served concurrently.