Five notorious criminals have been sentenced for a £750,000 plant machinery theft spree across Surrey and surrounding areas. The gang targeted building sites and storage yards, stealing dumper trucks and mini diggers under the cover of darkness.
The thieves struck key locations in Farnham, Guildford, Woking, and nearby towns, taking heavy equipment such as one-tonne dumper trucks and mini diggers. They then altered vehicle identification numbers and forged certificates to sell the stolen machinery as legitimate.
The ringleaders of the operation, Paul Jones and Michael Burrows, led the criminal crew. Jones boasted in a text message, stating, “Tell them we’re the biggest machine ringing firm in the South of England.” Linked to over half a million pounds worth of stolen equipment, Jones collaborated with William Bath to refurbish Guildford’s Cinderella nightclub using illicit funds.
During the police investigation, cannabis factories were discovered at William Bath’s property and at yards connected to gang member Mark Grant and his father, Lee Grant. CCTV footage captured stolen machinery being loaded onto foreign trucks at Grant’s yard, which was a crucial part of the gang’s logistics.
The following jail terms were handed down:
- Paul Jones, 40, from Woking – 7 years and 2 months for conspiracy, theft, and money laundering
- William Bath, 40, from Billingshurst – 4 years and 3 months for handling stolen goods and cannabis production
- Mark Grant, 36, from Ash – 4 years for handling stolen goods
- Michael Burrows, 52, from Odiham – 3 years and 4 months for conspiracy
- John Burrows, 33, from Normandy – 1 year and 4 months for conspiracy
The Serious Organised Crime Unit’s thorough investigation has dismantled one of the South East’s largest machine-ringing gangs. The offenders now face significant prison sentences, marking justice served for the region.
Originally published by UKNIP.
