Four car thieves who stole Porsches & Audis across Manchester are jailed for more than 11 years

A group of car thieves who carried out a number of vehicle thefts across Manchester have been jailed for a total of more than 11 years.

The four offenders went on a spree of stealing cars across the city and were finally apprehended in dramatic circumstances when police pursued them while they were driving a stolen car and the incident ended up in a dangerous high-speed pursuit through parts of the city-region at up to 100mph.

The quartet were linked to the taking of 13 cars. including luxury makes such as Audi and Porsche, which were taken from car parks and driveways across the city. The stolen vehicles were then used in burglaries. This week the four thieves were put behind bars at Manchester Crown Court.

Who are the car thieves and what sentences did they receive?

The four prolific car thieves who were jailed on Wednesday 16 March at Manchester Crown Court are:

Declan McCluskey, a 20-year-old from Boothfield Road in Wythenshawe, who was jailed for three years and four months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, driving while disqualified and being behind the wheel without insurance.

Alan McCabe, 21, also of Boothfield Road in Wythenshawe, who was jailed for three years and 11 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.

Kade McEwan, 20, of Moorcroft Road in Manchester, who received one year and 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.

Christopher Ward, a 20-year-old from Ninfield Road in Wythenshawe, who was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, possession of a blade article and possession of cannabis.

What did the four car thieves do?

Greater Manchester Police (GMP), following the quartet’s sentencing, said the group were linked to 13 thefts of cars including Audis and Porsches from car parks, town centre locations and the drives outside private homes across Manchester. These vehicles were then used to commit more crimes as they were involved in burglaries.

The group came to the attention of the Serious Organised Crime Group at GMP, whichin 2022 launched a proactive investigation targeting criminals involved in car thefts and burglaries across the city.

The spree of offending came to a dramatic end on 3 March this year when specialist officers from the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit stopped the men while they were travelling in a stolen car.

The group led police on a high-speed pursuit, reaching over 100mph, as they tore through Gatley in Stockport. However, following the chase, all four offenders were arrested with the help of GMP’s dog handlers as police dogs sniffed the group out, including finding one who was hidden under a sofa.

What have police said about the arrests and prison sentences?

Detective Constable Chris Bromley from GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group said: “This group were prolific thieves, and these were really intrusive crimes where they would often break into people’s homes and steal the cars from their drives, leaving people unable to get to work or take their children to school.

“These men had no regard for public safety with their behaviour and reckless driving, and I hope this incident demonstrates that no matter how organised a gang may think they are, we will use all the experience and resources available to available to put these individuals behind bars.”

GMP is reminding residents that anyone with information that could help bring burglars or people handling stolen goods to justice can be passed on to the force via the LiveChat function on the GMP website or by ringing 101.