On January 21, 2026, three men were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court for stealing luxury cars and pick-up trucks worth roughly £111,000 from driveways across Kent, including Sittingbourne. The group targeted local residents over a two-month period, using electronic key‑cloning equipment to gain access to keyless vehicles without needing the physical keys.
Malcolm Royden and Mason James both received prison sentences of two years and nine months for their roles in the thefts. A third man, Fred Wreden, was handed a 22‑month sentence that was suspended for two years and ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work. The crimes took place between December 2024 and January 2025 in several areas including Faversham, Gillingham and Teynham.
Kent Police used automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and residential security footage to track a car used during the crimes. Kent Online reported that three walkie‑talkies were found by police, and the suspects were arrested at the BP petrol station on Ashford Road between Harrietsham and Lenham.
Detective Constable Harry Groves said: “These men showed a wanton disregard for their victims’ property in what were blatant, well-organized thefts.” He thanked local residents for providing CCTV footage, saying it played a significant part in bringing the gang to justice and making the neighbourhood safer. Kent Police continues to provide guidance to the public on protecting keyless vehicles parked on private driveways.
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