TWO brothers from Coventry have been jailed after stealing thousands of pounds worth of tools from vehicles in the city.
David and Patrick McDonagh’s spree of thefts between March and May this year saw them steal tools and cause damage to vehicles worth more than £42,000.
David, 45, and Patrick, 38, were each jailed for four years and eight months at Warwick Crown Court after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of a motor vehicle.
The pair would target vans and other work vehicles parked up in car parks across the city, drilling the locks to gain access.
Det Sgt Jay Aston from Coventry Police’s Neighbourhood Crime Team said: “The majority of victims in this case were self-employed tradespeople, with these thefts having a significant impact on their ability to work and earn a living.
“My team worked tirelessly throughout their investigation to put together a timeline of events and information to help charge the men responsible.
“Fortunately, we were able to identify some of the victims and reunite them with their stolen property, with a number of items recovered after the pair were arrested.
“Hopefully this sentence sends a clear message that this kind of crime will not be tolerated in Coventry.”
West Midlands Police is sharing advice on how to keep vehicles and property safe from thieves and burglars as the nights get darker. Visit https://tinyurl.com/4n8expaf for more information.
