David Shaikh, 22, from Quinton, and Tobias Williams, 20, from Oldbury, have been jailed for their involvement in stealing more than a dozen cars worth nearly £250,000 across the Black Country. The two men were charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal motor vehicles after a spree of 15 vehicle thefts between September and December 2022.
The majority of the burglaries took place overnight in Dudley and Sandwell, with the thieves targeting properties while victims slept. They would force entry to the homes by snapping locks on front or rear doors, then stealing car keys and taking the vehicles from the driveways.
The crime spree began on September 5, 2022, when a white Audi A3 was stolen from a Halesowen driveway after the car keys were taken from inside the property. CCTV footage captured one of the suspects using a torch to look through windows before entering through the front door.
The stolen Audi was later involved in more burglaries and attempted burglaries across Halesowen and Dudley. Officers eventually recovered the Audi, which had been parked in garages on Apperley Way, Cradley, with false number plates. Investigators connected the stolen vehicle to Shaikh and Williams, leading to their arrest.
At Birmingham Crown Court on April 7, 2025, Shaikh was sentenced to five years in prison, while Williams received four years and two months. Detective Constable Lucy Locke praised the investigation, which involved reviewing CCTV footage, forensic examinations, and mobile phone data. She said, “Shaikh and Williams went on a three-month crime spree, stealing high-value vehicles, but fortunately, we were able to recover some of the stolen cars and return them to their owners.”
The case highlights the importance of home security and the impact of vehicle thefts on local communities.
