A pair of thieves stole a string of high-value Mercedes ‘to order’ from driveways worth around £171,000 in total. Joshua Phelps, 28 and Craig Morley, 38, were part of a gang that used “keyless technology” to steal the cars right from their owners’ driveways. Bolton Crown Court heard how both of them had discussed “cars, getting cars, and going out with a machine.
” Prosecutor Wayne Jackson said: “The crown say that this, in effect, was a team job between them.” He added: “The actual case itself concerns the police investigation into the theft of high-value motor vehicles that utilise the so-called ‘keyless entry’ method, in which thefts had been taking place in the Bolton area.” The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest) Mr Jackson told the court that the men were identified after Phelps was caught on CCTV, leading police to search his home in October 2022.
Phelps himself was later stopped and arrested on Accrington Road in Whalley on November 11 2022. He was taken to Green Bank Police Station in Blackburn where after examining his phone officers found incoming and outgoing calls. Phelps was then taken to Bolton Police Station and his house was searched again.
On examining the phone, officers found a series of calls linking both Phelps and Morley to a series of car thefts. Joshua Phelps has now been jailed (Image: GMP) Mr Jackson told the court how the first theft involved Phelps but not Morley when a Mercedes, worth £28,000 was sto.