Three Men Sentenced for £2 Million Car-Key Burglary Spree in Birmingham
Three men from Birmingham have been handed significant prison sentences after a series of car-key burglaries that resulted in the theft of vehicles worth approximately £2 million. The criminals were ultimately caught out by their own incriminating videos, which they filmed and shared on social media.
Foolish Thieves Film Their Own Crimes
Callum James, aged 24, Jack Bardini, aged 18, and Deche Luton-Howe, aged 25, were involved in dozens of burglaries across Birmingham between August 2024 and April 2025. The trio targeted homes specifically to steal high-value cars by using a method known as lock snapping to gain entry and take car keys.
In a remarkably foolish move, the thieves recorded videos of themselves during their criminal activities. These videos showed them performing doughnuts in a stolen BMW, swapping number plates on stolen vehicles, and posing for photographs with the illicit motors. Some of this footage was even shared on social media platforms, where it was easily identified by investigating officers.
Detailed Investigation and Court Sentencing
The investigation, led by West Midlands Police's Serious and Organised Crime team, was extensive and relied heavily on piecing together evidence from the videos. PC Adam McWalter noted that the trio were meticulous in their roles during the eight-month crime spree, but their own recordings proved to be their downfall.
All three men were sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court last week for over 100 offences related to the burglaries. Callum James admitted to 75 offences, including conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle, and conspiracy to conceal criminal property. He received a nine-year prison sentence.
Jack Bardini pleaded guilty to 31 similar offences and was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison. Deche Luton-Howe admitted to charges of possession and control of articles for use in fraud, as well as making and supplying articles for fraud, specifically related to producing counterfeit number plates for the stolen vehicles. He was given a two-year and three-month jail term.
Police Comments on the Case
PC Adam McWalter commented on the investigation, stating, "The trio were meticulous in their individual roles in the crime spree. They carried out dozens of offences over an eight-month period, and so the investigation was lengthy. Piecing together every piece of evidence and footage was vital to the investigation and secured the charges and eventual guilty pleas. Thankfully, these three prolific offenders will now be spending a long time behind bars."
The case highlights the importance of digital evidence in modern policing and serves as a stark warning to criminals who might underestimate the power of their own recorded actions.
