A gang of six men who stole 26 caravans from Essex and neighbouring counties have been jailed for a total of 13 years.They were caught after police launched an investigation codenamed Operation Winnebago, after a significant spike in the theft of caravans during 2013 and 2014.
This identified links between a number of crimes which were carried out by members of the same family.
Paul Abbasi, 40 from West Hampstead, Bernard McDonagh, 31, of no fixed address, Thomas McDonagh, 32, of Middle Ground, Wheatley, Bernie McDonagh, 28, of Horseman Side, Brentwood, Christopher McDonagh, 21, of Middle Ground, Wheatley and Martin McDonagh, 24, also of Middle Ground, Wheatley, admitted a total of 38 offences of handling stolen goods, theft or attempted theft at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, November 6.
Bernard McDonagh was jailed for four years, Thomas McDonagh for two and a half years, Christopher McDonagh for two years which included nine months for dangerous driving and one month for an unrelated theft, Bernie McDonagh for two years and five months, Martin McDonagh for 12 months and Paul Abbasi for 14 months, when they appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, December 4.
Abbasi was one of the McDonagh’s drivers. While all the McDonagh’s are believed to be related, police have only been able to establish that Bernard, Thomas and Martin are brothers, Christopher is their nephew and Bernie is Christopher’s cousin.
The gang organised the theft of 4x4 vehicles which were used to steal caravans from driveways in urban and rural areas and from secure storage.
They employed various individuals to drive the vehicles away.
The thefts took place in Essex, Suffolk and Kent in both day and night and often more than one caravan was stolen from the same place.
The total value of the property stolen was £283,200 including 26 caravans and 12 motor vehicles used to steal them.
Police say many victims lost personal possessions which can never be replaced.
At earlier hearings during the overall investigation 9 other defendants pleaded guilty to 18 offences of theft and handling stolen goods.
A gang of six men who stole 26 caravans from Essex and neighbouring counties have been jailed for a total of 13 years.
They were caught after police launched an investigation codenamed Operation Winnebago, after a significant spike in the theft of caravans during 2013 and 2014.
This identified links between a number of crimes which were carried out by members of the same family.
Paul Abbasi, 40 from West Hampstead, Bernard McDonagh, 31, of no fixed address, Thomas McDonagh, 32, of Middle Ground, Wheatley, Bernie McDonagh, 28, of Horseman Side, Brentwood, Christopher McDonagh, 21, of Middle Ground, Wheatley and Martin McDonagh, 24, also of Middle Ground, Wheatley, admitted a total of 38 offences of handling stolen goods, theft or attempted theft at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, November 6.
Bernard McDonagh was jailed for four years, Thomas McDonagh for two and a half years, Christopher McDonagh for two years which included nine months for dangerous driving and one month for an unrelated theft, Bernie McDonagh for two years and five months, Martin McDonagh for 12 months and Paul Abbasi for 14 months, when they appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, December 4.
Abbasi was one of the McDonagh’s drivers. While all the McDonagh’s are believed to be related, police have only been able to establish that Bernard, Thomas and Martin are brothers, Christopher is their nephew and Bernie is Christopher’s cousin.
The gang organised the theft of 4x4 vehicles which were used to steal caravans from driveways in urban and rural areas and from secure storage.
They employed various individuals to drive the vehicles away.
The thefts took place in Essex, Suffolk and Kent in both day and night and often more than one caravan was stolen from the same place.
The total value of the property stolen was £283,200 including 26 caravans and 12 motor vehicles used to steal them.
Police say many victims lost personal possessions which can never be replaced.
At earlier hearings during the overall investigation 9 other defendants pleaded guilty to 18 offences of theft and handling stolen goods.
They were caught after police launched an investigation codenamed Operation Winnebago, after a significant spike in the theft of caravans during 2013 and 2014.
This identified links between a number of crimes which were carried out by members of the same family.
Paul Abbasi, 40 from West Hampstead, Bernard McDonagh, 31, of no fixed address, Thomas McDonagh, 32, of Middle Ground, Wheatley, Bernie McDonagh, 28, of Horseman Side, Brentwood, Christopher McDonagh, 21, of Middle Ground, Wheatley and Martin McDonagh, 24, also of Middle Ground, Wheatley, admitted a total of 38 offences of handling stolen goods, theft or attempted theft at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, November 6.
Bernard McDonagh was jailed for four years, Thomas McDonagh for two and a half years, Christopher McDonagh for two years which included nine months for dangerous driving and one month for an unrelated theft, Bernie McDonagh for two years and five months, Martin McDonagh for 12 months and Paul Abbasi for 14 months, when they appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, December 4.
Abbasi was one of the McDonagh’s drivers. While all the McDonagh’s are believed to be related, police have only been able to establish that Bernard, Thomas and Martin are brothers, Christopher is their nephew and Bernie is Christopher’s cousin.
The gang organised the theft of 4x4 vehicles which were used to steal caravans from driveways in urban and rural areas and from secure storage.
They employed various individuals to drive the vehicles away.
The thefts took place in Essex, Suffolk and Kent in both day and night and often more than one caravan was stolen from the same place.
The total value of the property stolen was £283,200 including 26 caravans and 12 motor vehicles used to steal them.
Police say many victims lost personal possessions which can never be replaced.
At earlier hearings during the overall investigation 9 other defendants pleaded guilty to 18 offences of theft and handling stolen goods.
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