CCTV footage reveals the operations of ‘ruthless’ raiders who ripped cash machines from shops and even a hospital before being busted by police – and now, they have been ordered to pay back more than £200,000.
They tied cargo straps to ATMs and then yanked them out of their vehicles using vehicles with cloned numbers plates or wheeling the stolen cars along trollies.
From March 2018 through January 2019, the gang committed 11 brazen attacks and attempted many more in the West Midlands.
West Midlands Police has released CCTV footage showing how a five-man gang tore ATMs off walls between March 2018 and January 2019 as part of their modus operandi. They have now been ordered to pay back more than £200,000 of their ill-gotten gains
After admitting conspiracy to commercially burglary, five members of the gang were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court for more than 31 year.
Now they have been ordered to pay back more than £200,000 of their ill-gotten gains following a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
In order to avoid a three-month jail term, criminals are required to compensate cash machine operators.
The gang would then wheel the ATMs to their getaway cars on carts after ripping them out with cargo straps and vehicles.
Although no one was injured during the raids, the gang left behind a trail of destruction that left victims with huge debts.
Four of the five people convicted were subject to confiscation orders by Birmingham Crown Court police last week.
Ring leader Craig Matthews, 44, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, must pay almost £160,000 or his eight year and seven month sentence will be increased by a year and nine months.
Charlie Ward, 29, of Tile Hill, Coventry, must pay £21,000 otherwise his five year sentence will increase by 12 months.
Shane Stajsavlijevic, 38, of Henley Green, Coventry, was told to pay just over £17,500 or his seven years and two months prison terms increases by 10 months.
Kenneth Bourne, 41, of Fillongley, Warwickshire, must pay £8,300 or his six year sentence increases by six months.
Before the trial, the court was told how the gang broke into the Spar supermarket in Tamworth (Staffordshire), before they took out the cash machines.
Later, they cut bollards for entry to Birmingham’s Cannon Hill Park. There, they pulled a cash machine that was borrowed from the Midlands Arts Centre.
Ring leader Craig Matthews, who has 19 previous convictions spanning 49 offences, was spotted on CCTV carrying out reconnaissance missions in broad daylight – sizing up the ATMs
However, the raiders tried covering cameras using tape. It was Craig Matthews (a veteran criminal and gang leader) who left DNA on a piece tape that ultimately allowed West Midlands Police reveal their identities to them and bring them down.
After taping CCTV cameras, five days later the gang demolished the interior of the Lichfield Post Office to take the cash machine.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham was also visited by the group. They loaded an ATM on a cart and walked out past other members of public.
After being disturbed at the cash-and-carry in Birmingham, security guards were forced to get out of their way.
The West Midlands Police employed CCTV, phone analysis, and forensics to track down the gang, especially after they had to leave a Transit van.
The detectives identified the suspects using fingerprints that they left on a wheelbarrow.
Craig Matthews, 44, and Kenneth Bourne, 41, must pay £160,000 and £8,300, respectively
Shane Stajsavlijevic, 38, and Charlie Ward, 29, must pay back £17,500 and £21,000, respectively
Craig Matthews was a Ringleader and has been convicted of 19 offenses.
Additionally, he was forensically connected to one van’s registration plate.
He was seen on CCTV inspecting the cash machine, while passengers were going about their day at Rugby railway station.
The two were taken into custody at the start of 2019, and they later admitted to conspiring to commit commercial burglary.
Annie Miller, Chief Detective Inspector of Police at the time stated: “This was sophisticated organised criminality that showed an enormous amount planning.
The gang caused a lot of damage, which led to huge financial losses for victims.
“Thanks to outstanding police work, it was possible to create a complete picture of the gang’s vehicles, reconnaissance, and movements.
“We are continuing to work alongside the cash machine industry in order to increase security and reduce the chance of them being targeted in this manner in the future.”