Man jailed following series of van thefts

A man has been jailed for more than three years for his involvement in a series of van thefts across Staffordshire.

Matthew Bickley, 43, from Walsall, admitted responsibility for a total of 15 van thefts across the county in a period stretching just over six months.

From August 2022 to mid-January this year, he targeted Mercedes Sprinter vans across a number of different areas – including Tamworth, Cannock, East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Stafford. He left more than 20 victims without their vehicles and continued to target the vans until he was arrested in October 2022.

Investigators worked tirelessly to examine all of the evidence from a series of different thefts. They spoke to a number of residents and businesses who had fallen victim to Bickley’s offending and were able to link him to the crime scenes using a combination of forensic work and witness accounts.

As a result, Bickley was put before the courts and pleaded guilty to a total of 15 offences in Staffordshire. He was jailed for 40 months at Stafford Crown Court on Thursday (14 September) for conspiring to steal motor vehicles and was ordered to pay a surcharge of £228.

Detective Constable Dan Trupp, who was in charge of the case, said: “I’m pleased with the efforts involved to link Bickley to a series of thefts and put a stop to his prolific offending.

“Vehicle theft is a priority for the force and we’re committed to proactively investigating thieves and securing justice for the victims who have been affected by it.

“We are continuing to work with neighbouring forces to share intelligence to make sure those involved in acquisitive crime are identified and brought before the courts.”

There are a number of ways you can protect your vehicle from crime. To read more, visit: Preventing car and vehicle theft | Crime Prevention | Staffordshire Police