Car theft gang hacked keyless Land Rovers

A car thief who was part of a gang that stole up to £200,000-worth of keyless Land Rovers and Range Rovers has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Sam Gordon, 37, and his associates used electronic devices to access the expensive cars from outside their owners' homes across Tyneside and Wearside, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

High value items including golf clubs and riding equipment were also taken, the court heard.

Gordon admitted being involved in eight thefts and was jailed for 20 months suspended for two years.

The gang was rumbled after police noticed a "disproportionate" number of certain cars, including Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover Evoque vehicles, being stolen across the region in 2019 and 2020, Judge Nathan Adams said.

In all but one of the at least 14 crimes, the cars had keyless ignitions which the gang was able to hack into without the owner's fob ever being taken, the court heard.

In one case in Sunderland, the car keys were stolen from just inside the front door of the owner's home, the court heard.

Gordon admitted being involved in thefts in Washington, Whitley Bay, Gosforth, Cleadon, Seghill and Sunderland between February 2019 and March 2020.

Other items stolen stolen included golf clubs, thousands of pounds worth of riding equipment and a luxury handbag, with owners saying they were "furious" at the thefts.

Officers found a door from one of the stolen Land Rovers at Gordon's home while a Ford Fiesta caught on CCTV driving to and from some of the scenes was also linked to him, the court heard.

Judge Adams said others - including one person previously sentenced - were involved in what was an "extensive" and "sophisticated" operation involving false and cloned registration plates.

The judge said the total value of the gang's haul was estimated to be between £150,000 and £200,000.

The court heard Gordon had committed multiple other offences including burglaries and driving while disqualified, but he was deemed to have a reasonable prospect of rehabilitation.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].