TWO car key burglars linked to 12 offences across the region including in Worcestershire have been jailed.

Nathan Lumbard, 29, was identified after he was linked to a vehicle acting suspiciously in Henley-in-Arden in August.

Tracking data from the vehicle, which had been hired by Lumbard, linked him to several burglaries and attempted burglaries. Further investigation linked Robert Craig Wood, 28, to the offences.

Police carried out raids at a business premise in the name of Lumbard in Redditch in September, and they discovered a number of car parts including some belonging to one of the stolen cars and a shotgun that had been stolen in a burglary in Henley-in-Arden in August.

After they were arrested tracking data from the hired vehicle, the offenders' mobile phones and road cameras placed them at the scene of various burglaries and attempted burglaries across the Midlands, including in Droitwich.

The offences, which occurred over a three week period in August and September, saw a number of high value vehicles stolen, including Audis and BMWs.

Appearing at Warwickshire Crown Court on November 9 Wood, of Dawlish Road, and Lumbard, of Greaves Square, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle.

Wood admitted involvement in all 12 offences and Lumbard admitted involvement of 10 of them.

The pair have been jailed for four years and eight months.

Another man arrested as part of the investigation, John O'Shaughnessy, 31, of Kenilworth House, Hollybank Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to possession of the shotgun seized during the raid and handling stolen goods. He had previously been sentenced to five years in prison.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Karl Brennan said: "The offenders targeted high value vehicles and I'm pleased the court has recognised the extent of their offending in giving them lengthy prison sentences."

Another man arrested as part of the investigation, John O'Shaughnessy, 31, of Kenilworth House, Hollybank Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to possession of the shotgun seized during the raid and handling stolen goods. Appearing at Warwickshire Crown Court in October he was sentenced to five years in prison.

Two car key burglars from Birmingham who were linked to 12 offences in Warwickshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands over a three week period have each been locked up for four years and eight months. This followed a joint investigation between Warwickshire Police and West Midlands Police.

Tracking data from the vehicle, which had been hired by Lumbard, linked him to several burglaries and attempted burglaries. Further investigation linked Robert Craig Wood, 28, to the offences.

Police carried out raids at a business premise in the name of Lumbard in Weights Lane Business Park, Redditch, on 10 September. They discovered a number of car parts including some belonging to one of the stolen cars and a shotgun that had been stolen in a burglary in Henley in Arden in August.

Wood was arrested at his home the same day and Lumbard was arrested on 17 September.

Tracking data from the hired vehicle, the offenders' mobile phones and road cameras placed them at the scene of the burglaries and attempted burglaries which occurred in areas around Stratford, Droitwich and Solihull.

The offences, which occurred over a three week period in August and September, saw a number of high value vehicles stolen, including Audis and BMWs.

Appearing at Warwickshire Crown Court on Friday (9 November) Wood, of Dawlish Road, and Lumbard, of Greaves Square, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle.

Wood admitted involvement in all 12 offences and Lumbard admitted involvement of 10 of them.

Another man arrested as part of the investigation, John O'Shaughnessy, 31, of Kenilworth House, Hollybank Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to possession of the shotgun seized during the raid and handling stolen goods. Appearing at Warwickshire Crown Court in October he was sentenced to five years in prison.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Karl Brennan from Warwickshire Police Offender Management Unit said: "The offenders targeted high value vehicles and I'm pleased the court has recognised the extent of their offending in giving them lengthy prison sentences.