Gone in seven hours - five Ranger Rovers from two neighbouring Cheshire towns

A prolific gang of thieves stole five Range Rovers in seven hours from two upmarket towns. They struck in Wimslow and Alderley Edge on the same night.

Two of the vehicles, each worth around tens of thousands of pounds, were recovered, but a sixth Range Rover was stolen six days later from the same area. Between 8.40pm on Sunday March 13 and 3.50am on Monday March 14 officers received five reports of keyless Range Rover thefts in the Alderley Edge and Wilmslow areas.

Two of the vehicles have since been recovered in Hyde, Tameside. But in the early hours of Saturday March 19th a further report was received that a Range Rover had been stolen in the Wilmslow area.

READ MORE:Gang from Oldham ran staggering £3million international 'chop shop' plot shipping Range Rovers

The Manchester Evening News reported in December 2020 how an international car stealing operation had been smashed by police. Two organised crime gangs based in Oldham, with associates in Bolton and Bury, were behind the theft of 70 luxury car worth £3m.

They specialised in stealing Ranger Rovers and Land Rovers - including the popular Evoque - as well as BMWs, Audis, and Volkswagens. It is thought they have technology which enables them to get into a car without the keys and start and steal it in 30 seconds.

During 12-month investigation officers from GMP's Serious and Organised Crime Group intercepted Range Rovers at Liverpool docks about to be shipped abroad and recovered others already en route to the Middle East and Europe. In January this year five men were jailed for almost 50 years.

Detective Inspector John O’Driscoll, who is leading the investigation into the theft of the Range Rovers in Wilmslow and Alderley Edge, said: “A number of enquiries are