Four individuals have been sentenced after orchestrating a large-scale theft of over 1,000 e-scooter batteries across Liverpool between July and November 2023. The group targeted VOI e-scooters, removing the batteries and selling them abroad.
The thefts were uncovered following a thorough investigation, and in November 2023, police executed a search warrant at an industrial unit where they found 33 stolen batteries in the suspects’ vehicles.
At Liverpool Crown Court on April 4, 2024, the following sentences were handed down for conspiring to steal from a motor vehicle:
Darius Porgniczy, 50, of Audley Street, Crewe, was sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of the theft.
Alex Carroll, 29, of Saunby Close, Garston, received a sentence of two years and eight months in prison.
Alex Dunn, 22, of Gatacre Vale Road, Woolton, was given a suspended sentence of 18 months and 200 hours of unpaid work.
Kirsty Jones, 36, of Abbeyvale Drive, Belle Vale, was also given a suspended sentence of 18 months and 250 hours of unpaid work.
A 17-year-old male from Liverpool, who was also involved, appeared at a previous hearing and was referred to the Youth Offending Team.
The investigation was largely supported by CCTV footage, which provided key evidence. One such incident, captured on September 13, 2023, showed Jones and Carroll stealing a battery from an e-scooter in Liverpool, with similar footage following on October 13.
Detective Sergeant Mark Pedder, who led the investigation, described the operation as a “well-planned and sustained” scheme targeting high-value items that impacted the community’s daily use of e-scooters. He expressed gratitude for the swift arrest of the suspects and the retrieval of stolen batteries at the scene.
James Bolton, General Manager of Voi UK, expressed satisfaction with the sentencing, praising the technology and the police’s efforts to protect the city’s e-scooter service. He emphasized that theft not only disrupts the service but also negatively impacts the people who depend on it for affordable and sustainable transport.
Detective Sergeant Pedder also urged e-bike and e-scooter owners to take proactive measures to secure their vehicles, including using locks and marking their bikes to increase the chance of recovery in case of theft. The National Cycle Database offers a registration service to further protect owners.
With continued public support and law enforcement’s commitment, authorities are determined to combat such thefts and maintain a safer environment for all.
