They posed as Manchester Airport valets, cruised estates and left families terrified - inside 'the Company'

As he pulled up in his silver C220 AMG Mercedes at Manchester Airport, a holidaymaker handed over his keys to a valet. It was the best way, he thought, to make sure it would be kept safe while he was away.

But, unknowingly he had been duped. In one simple exchange, criminals operating an international scam in stolen high-end vehicles now had their hands on his £50,000 pride and joy.

The gang had created false documents to give the impression they were representatives of a legitimate controlled parking company. When the owner returned from his trip he contacted the real company and discovered he had been deceived.

And they were brazen.

Another car was stolen off a drive by the gang whilst the owner was on holiday. On one occasion, they walked into a house whilst the owners were in the garden and stole the keys.

In a separate incident a man was threatened to stay inside his house in Failsworth with his three-year-old daughter whilst they stole his car. If he refused, the would kill her.

READ MORE: International crime gang operating £3m 'chop shop' plot in Greater Manchester smashed

Cruising around a smart estate, one of the gang commented "Fresh" as they drove by a pristine white Range Rover Sport. Soon after the vehicle was in the back of a shipping container as another asset in a lucrative criminal enterprise. The clip from a phone was recovered by police who smashed the group behind a prolific spree of thefts.

The vehicle was one of scores stolen by an Oldham-based firm who called themselves "The Company", and hit on a way of making millions from stealing high-end cars to order and sending them abroad. Others were stripped in one of seven chop shops across Greater Manchester and the parts sold.

Even when police