A court hearing has disclosed that West Midlands Police is maintaining a heightened visible presence around Birmingham City FC's St Andrew's at Knighthead Park on matchdays, but the reason is unrelated to football hooliganism. Instead, officers are targeting 'car cannibals' who strip vehicles of parts while supporters are at games.
Court Statement Reveals Reason for Patrols
During a sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, June 26, a victim personal statement on behalf of Birmingham City Football Club highlighted an "identified increase in reports of vehicle cannibalisation occurring in areas surrounding Birmingham City FC fixtures." The statement explained that offenders target vehicles parked by supporters and visitors, removing valuable components such as headlights, bumpers, mirrors, and bonnets within minutes, often bragging about their exploits online.
The issue came to light as two 23-year-old men, Mohammed Khan and Mohammed Haydar, were jailed for four years and three months each after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal from motor vehicles. Khan admitted to 98 offences, while Haydar pleaded guilty to 20 offences. They had stripped almost 100 vehicles of parts across the West Midlands, including those belonging to Blues fans.
Impact on Fans and Community
According to the court statement, victims often return after matches to discover significant damage and theft, resulting in substantial financial loss, inconvenience, recovery costs, insurance implications, and considerable distress. The statement added: "These offences have the potential to negatively affect public confidence in attending football fixtures and can damage the reputation of the local area as a safe and welcoming environment for supporters."
The wider community impact includes vehicle crime contributing to fear of crime among residents and businesses operating near the stadium.
Police Response and Partnership
West Midlands Police has responded by deploying officers, including local neighbourhood policing teams and match-day policing resources, to maintain a visible presence in areas surrounding the stadium on matchdays. The statement explained: "This deployment is designed to deter offenders, identify suspicious activity, reassure supporters and local residents, and provide an immediate response capability should offences occur."
The force continues to work closely with Birmingham City FC, local authorities, businesses, car park operators, and partner agencies to identify vulnerable locations, share intelligence, and implement crime prevention measures. Birmingham City FC has also highlighted the partnership work with match-day stewards in communicating with supporters to help highlight problems, leading to positive action.
