A gang of thieves who stole nearly £700,000 in a series of raids on cash machines at banks and shops across the country are facing years behind bars today.
They struck nine times using specialist equipment including angle grinders and the jaws of life, which are used by firefighters to rescue people trapped in cars, in a spree lasting nearly a year.
They chose stolen high-performance cars, using multiple fake number plates each time, to use in their getaways.
The gang even used a flatbed truck, which was reinforced so that they could ram their way into the businesses.
The gang struck in police areas including West Mercia, Leicestershire, Avon and Somerset, Bedfordshire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Staffordshire.
Noel Reilly
Simon Pagett
Oliver Matthews
Craig Howell
Daniel Hickenbottom
West Midlands Police Major Crime Unit began hunting the gang after detectives linked crimes around the country which identified that the gang was based in the West Midlands. The unit worked closely with other national forces piecing evidence together.
The gang’s downfall came when they booked out two holiday lets in Cumbria to act as a base of operations while they struck in the county on three consecutive days, from 11 August 2024.
They forced open cash machines at three shops, stealing more than £128,000 in the process, using a stolen Audi as the getaway vehicle.
But a police officer spotted the gang’s stolen Audi being transported on a low loader back to the Midlands.
The transporter was stopped and the driver, Daniel Hickenbottom, was arrested. His job was to transport the stolen vehicles before and after the crimes on a low loader to avoid detection.
‘No concrete evidence’
A major investigation followed and identified the rest of the gang, through analysis of CCTV, mobile phone records, WhatsApp voice recordings and forensic examinations including fingerprints and DNA.
Noel Reilly, Craig Howell and Simon Pagett would plan and carry out the raids, buying clothing to wear on the break ins and arriving in stolen cars with the right tools to break into the cash machines.
During the investigation, West Midlands Police recovered a WhatsApp audio recording from Reilly, boasting that police had no ‘concrete evidence’ against the gang. Eleven days later, we launched dawn raids to arrest him and other gang members.
Oliver Matthews was the owner of Bloxwich Resprays, where the gang would store their stolen vehicles and use as a base. He would drive around the country after crimes to assist the gang.
This week a trial lasting more than two months at Wolverhampton Crown Court:
Noel Reilly, aged 46, of Appletrees Crescent, Bromsgrove pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, handle stolen goods and possess criminal property.
Simon Pagett, aged 43, of Dartford Road, Bloxwich pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, handle stolen goods and possess criminal property.
Oliver Matthews, 39, of Baneberry Drive, Featherstone pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle.
Craig Howell, 44, of Hatfield Drive, Wolverhampton, was convicted of conspiracy to burgle, handle stolen goods and possess criminal property.
Daniel Hickenbottom, 38, of Chantry Avenue, Bloxwich, was convicted of conspiracy to burgle, handle stolen goods and possess
All five will be sentenced at a later date.
‘The gang showed a high level of sophistication’
Det Sgt Tom Frenchum, from WMP Major Crime Unit’s Proactive Team, said: “A huge amount of planning and preparation went into these offences and the gang showed a high level of sophistication throughout but our detective worked tirelessly to disrupt them and now put them behind bars.
“The gang had specific roles – some would carry out the ATM attacks, while others would help with the logistics of transporting the stolen vehicles and the specialist cutting equipment.’’
A spokesperson for WMP added: “The success is part of Operation Target, our 24/7 efforts to target those involved in serious and organised crime around the West Midlands.
“Our officers work around the clock to target those involved in guns, drugs, money laundering and exploitation.
“Find out more, and how you can help, here 👉 Operation Target | West Midlands Police”