TWO Bracknell men have been handed jail sentences for the theft of electric keyless vehicles as part of an organised crime plot.

Charles Boraman, 22 of Nevile Close, and Cory Heath, 20, of Forest Green, both Bracknell, were sentenced at Reading Crown Court with one count of conspiring to steal motor vehicles between July and September last year.

The court heard that Boraman had pleaded guilty to theft of 24 vehicles totalling £684,265 while Heath had pleaded guilty to the theft of three totalling £99,650 on July 25, 2022.

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Prosecuting, Michael Rawlinson said the thefts were uncovered by Thames Valley Police as part of ‘substantial’ investigation where it was found that over 40 vehicles had been stolen between June and September last year.

The number plates of the vehicles, which included Range Rovers, Jaguars and Mercedes, were ‘quickly replaced’ and attempts were made to move some of the vehicles abroad.

An electrical system was used by the defendants to fool the car into thinking the car's own remote key fob is close thus unlocking the cars.

This equipment was found in bag dumped by Heath in a police chase after he was located in an Enterprise van on July 25 following the report of two Range Rover thefts.

He was later arrested and the bag was recovered.

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A further investigation by police found a storage unit in Bracknell rented by Boraman which contained Class A and Class B drugs totalling £12,290 in street value.

Boraman was sentenced to six years and three months imprisonment for one count of vehicle thefts and two drug counts.

Hearth was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years as well as 80 hours unpaid work and rehabilitation activity needs to be completed.

Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Ainley said: “During the summer of last year a number of vehicles were stolen from the Thames Valley are valuing over a quarter of a million.

“The effect goes beyond the commercial value. Cars are needed to get around, go to the shop, go to work, to meet people.

“If vehicles were stolen from outside your or your own drive you would start to wonder whether you were subjected to surveillance and the said fact is you probably were as these thefts didn’t take place at random – they needed planning.

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“[Boraman] was playing a leading role the night of July 25. There is a sophisticated amount of planning involved.

“He was an essential cog – it’s a very significant financial loss.”