Gang who tried to throw away car keys before arrest jailed for vehicle thefts in Surrey and Sussex

• Surrey Police released footage of the moment officers caught up with the thieves

A gang of car thieves who stole high performance vehicles in Surrey and Sussex have been jailed.

The group targeted grey Audi RS vehicles at addresses in Stoneleigh in Surrey and Copthorne in Sussex, breaking into the owners’ houses as they slept to steal their car keys before driving off in them.

They were caught when officers on patrol spotted an unattended grey Audi RS4 in Chipstead, Surrey, on the same day as one of the thefts had happened.

Police checks revealed the registration plates were cloned and officers were still there when the four offenders returned to the car.

They ran away after seeing the officers, but were captured after a short chase on foot.

Three of the group were jailed on Friday April 17 at Guildford Crown Court.

Romaine Simpson, 27, from Sutton, was sentenced to two years and seven months, while 24-year old Charlie Hart, from Croydon, was sentenced to two years and three months.

Kayden Brown, 20, from Carshalton, was sentenced to 16 months in a Young Offenders Institution.

A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced in an earlier hearing at Staines Magistrates’ Court in February and received a Youth Referral Order for 12 months and a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order.

He was disqualified from driving for 16 months.

PC Joe Brown said: “During the foot chase they tried to throw away car keys connecting them to this vehicle, but these were recovered along with another set belonging to a second stolen car.

“We know vehicle theft has increased but we are working hard every day to identify and catch the offenders who are targeting them.”

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