Shropshire car part thieves ordered to pay back over £6,000
Three men involved in the theft and sale of car parts and accessories from a Shrewsbury motor business, have paid back more than £6,000.
West Mercia Police successfully applied to Shrewsbury Crown Court for confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
The men initially pleaded guilty to various offences when they appeared before the Crown Court in July.
Mark Keeshan, 45, of Eaton Constantine was given a 12-month community order of 150 hours unpaid work after admitting dishonestly receiving stolen car parts and accessories worth £1,900.
Gary Kattenhorn, 32, from St Georges, Telford, received a community order of 200 hours unpaid work for dishonestly receiving stolen goods valued at over £4,000.
Gareth Roberts, 29, of Leighton, ner Shrewsbury, was given a four-month suspended prison sentence together with 140 hours unpaid work for stealing car parts and accessories worth over £7,000.
Under the confiscation order, Keeshan was ordered to repay £1,900, Kattenhorn £1,500 and Roberts £3,000.
Police investigations identified property worth around £13,000 stolen from the Shrewsbury firm and led to the recovery of more than 500 items.
They began in March when the company reported items stolen from vehicles prior to being sold at auction.
It was suspected the property was being sold on eBay by two employees using different names. Subscriber checks were submitted in respect of the suspicious eBay accounts and traced back to the two suspects.
The first suspect was arrested and various items were recovered from the back of his car. A search of his home located hundreds of other items belonging to the company.
Officers then arrested the other two men. Further searches at their homes resulted in more items being traced and seized.
Detective Constable Lisa Partington, a financial investigator with West Mercia Police's Economic Crime Unit, said: "These men were tempted to commit crime through their greed.
"However, they were quickly identified once the company became suspicious and a detailed police investigation resulted in them being charged and put before the court.
"Furthermore, any money they obtained through their actions has now been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act following our successful application for confiscation orders."
