Caught by Their Own Footage
Police: "The World's Most Foolish Thief"
In the United Kingdom, a criminal organization targeting high-end vehicles was apprehended by police after their own self-recorded crime footage was used as evidence. On January 14 (local time), the Daily Mail reported that a theft gang that exclusively stole luxury cars across the UK was caught due to videos they had filmed themselves.
A video capturing Gapur (22), one of the members of the theft gang, wearing a mask during the crime. Photo by Chorley Police Facebook
From September to November 2023, the group stole only luxury cars in the areas of West Yorkshire and Lancashire, ultimately receiving a total prison sentence of 15 years. The police stated that they secured videos, filmed in a vlog style, showing the perpetrators before and after the crimes, as key evidence. One of the suspects, Zakariya Gapur (22), recorded scenes on his mobile phone, including preparing for a break-in and flaunting cash while driving a stolen vehicle.
The video released by Chorley Police showed Gapur wearing a crime mask, boasting about himself while sitting in the driver’s seat of a BMW. The police said that this footage played a crucial role in proving their guilt. Some of the stolen vehicles were involved in traffic accidents while moving in groups, and it was reported that some victims were notified of the theft by the police after the incidents.
A video capturing Gapur (22), one of the members of the theft group, wearing a mask during the crime. Photo by Chorley Police Facebook
Accomplices Kamran Ahmed (23) and Jordan May (23) had their DNA found on the airbags of stolen vehicles, while Mohammed Zubair (24) left DNA on a lighter at the scene. Additional evidence, such as a luxury bag containing drugs and photos of stolen vehicles, was also found in Gapur’s bedroom. A police spokesperson stated, "Gapur was the least clever thief among the group," adding, "The video documenting the crime served as decisive evidence." Detective Tom Archer commented, "Some of the group members were already serving sentences for similar crimes, and this verdict has added to their sentences," describing it as "a significant investigative achievement."
Similar cases have occurred before. In 2021, teenagers in Michigan, United States, were arrested after posting car theft videos on social media. In 2022, in Paris, France, a criminal who uploaded an unboxing video of stolen goods was apprehended after a police pursuit, highlighting a string of comparable incidents.
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