Car Cannibals Who Stripped Vehicles Near Blues Stadium Admit Guilt
Two prolific car thieves, who stripped parts from vehicles parked near Birmingham City Football Club's stadium and bragged about their crimes on social media, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. Mohammed Khan and Mohammed Haydar, both aged 23, admitted to conspiracy to steal from motor vehicles following a large-scale operation across the West Midlands.
Systematic Thefts Over Nearly Two Years
The pair targeted parked cars between December 2022 and October 2024, approaching vehicles and stripping them of valuable components within minutes. Their haul included headlights, bumpers, mirrors, bonnets, and numerous other parts essential to vehicle operation and appearance.
West Midlands Police revealed that Khan and Haydar would film themselves committing these "cannibalism" offences, take photographs of the stripped vehicles, and then boast about their thefts on various social media platforms. This brazen behavior provided crucial evidence for investigators.
Police Investigation and Court Proceedings
Following a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, April 14, Khan pleaded guilty to all 98 offences with which he was charged, while Haydar admitted to 20 offences. The police investigation spanned over three years, involving multiple warrants at the suspects' home addresses, hundreds of hours of CCTV review, and forensic examinations that ultimately identified both men as the perpetrators.
In a statement, West Midlands Police explained their collaborative approach: "We work closely with Birmingham City Football Club after some supporters raised concerns about vehicle crime. Specifically, those concerns about parts being stripped from cars, which had been parked in areas surrounding St. Andrews at Knighthead Park on matchdays."
The police confirmed that both Haydar and Khan carried out cannibalism offences in the surrounding areas and emphasized their ongoing commitment to tackling this distressing crime through increased patrols and partnership work with the football club.
Meticulous Planning and Significant Impact
Detective Constable Choudhury, who led the investigation, described the offenders' methods: "Both Haydar and Khan were meticulous in their offending. They carefully planned each theft that they carried out, where they would cause serious distress to their victims who were left with vehicles without parts."
The detective added: "Thankfully, we have been able to put together an extensive investigation which found both Haydar and Khan carried out almost 100 cannibalism offences, and now they will be spending time behind bars."
The duo will be sentenced in June, facing potentially significant prison terms for their systematic theft operation that targeted football supporters and other vehicle owners in the Birmingham area.
