A BALACLAVA-CLAD gang of burglars who ram raided a cashpoint in Earlswood have been jailed.
Roshan Singh, John Shorthouse and Kadim Shah used a car to drag a cash machine from the Co-op which was later found in Balsall Heath with an estimated £40,000 taken.
The trio also smashed their way into homes across South Warwickshire including Henley-in-Arden, Ullenhall, Claverdon and Wilmcote.
During 30 burglaries last year the men stole a number of shotguns which they sold on to criminal gangs in Birmingham.
It is estimated the gang stole more than £700,000 worth of high value items – including cars, watches and in some locations legitimately owned shotguns – during raids in Warwickshire and neighbouring Worcestershire and south Birmingham.
They were caught following a West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) investigation, and are now behind bars.
All three men pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, two counts of robbery and possession of firearms.
Shorthouse also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cocaine and both him and Shah pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified. They were sentenced to a total of nearly 48 years in prison.
Singh, 29, of South Acre Avenue, Birmingham was jailed for 16 years, Shorthouse, 23, of Greenford Road, Yardley, for 16 years and eight months, and Shah, 21, of Lewis Road, Stirchley, for 15 years and two months.
Chief Inspector Ronan Tyrer, from the Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “We have successfully put three very dangerous men behind bars and in doing so, we are helping to reduce the supply of weapons being transported from other areas of the country into Birmingham.
“We want to reassure the public we are doing all we can to tackle this kind of crime.
“The offences were unsophisticated and frightening, where these men turned up wearing balaclavas and smashed their way into properties in broad daylight.
“We’re currently in the process of reuniting recovered items with their owners.
“Our work on this case was intelligence-led, and we would like to thank members of the public for their continued support and for the information they provided, which assisted us with these convictions.”
