News
downsmail.co.uk Wheels turn on car parts thief
AMANwho stole steeringwheels from at least 70 high-value cars across the county has been jailed for four years. Ernestas Lukosevicius was ar-
rested in Larkfield in March fol- lowing the two-month crime spree in which he targeted vehicles in Maidstone, Aylesford, Sevenoaks, Sittingbourne and Canterbury.
Workingwith an
accomplice, the 27- year-old (pictured) used expanding foam and sticky tape to muffle car alarms and cover up any lights
whichmight flash, before removing the steering wheel and pulling
apart the dashboard in order to steal on-board computer systems. Entry to the vehicles, usually
BMWs, Audis or Mercedes, was made by smashing thewindow. Lukosevicius was caught red-
handed on March 12 when suspi- cious activity was reported in Carroll Gardens, Larkfield. At around 4am officers located two
Threatening stalker behind bars
A MAN who stalked a woman and evaded arrest – even calling a police officer to tell him they wouldn’t find him – has been jailed formore than two years. Charlie Brooker
(pictured)
pleaded guilty to putting a person in fear of violence through stalk- ing, and was sentenced to two years and fourmonths in prison at Maidstone Crown Court on June 11. The 30-year-old
conducted a cam- paign of abuse against a woman he knew inMaid- stone, which in-
cluded making threats to her in person and through texts, emails and onlinemessages. Despite the victim making it
clear she did notwant himto con- tact her, Brooker continued the abuse over several months and made threats to throw acid in her face, cut her with a knife and stamp on her head.He also threat- ened to harm her partner and damage her property. He sent the victimphotographs
at her home address inMaidstone and attended her workplace sev- eral times trying to contact her; on one occasion hewent to her house holding a craft knife.
When he learned his behaviour
had been reported to police, Brooker left his home, sold his car and took steps to conceal his loca- tion, even phoning a police officer boasting he wouldn’t be found. All the while he continued to
send threatening messages to the victim, until officers tracked him down to a house in Sidcup and ar- rested himonMarch 12. Investigating
officer PC
Thomas Moss said Brooker had- shown himself to be a threatening and dangerous criminal, and he commend the bravery of the vic- tim and witnesses who assisted the police investigation.
men crouched next to a BMW, and they ran off in separate directions. Lukosevicius was caught with a steering wheel hidden in his coat, but the otherman escaped. Expanding foam and tools were
also seized, while his fingerprints were also discovered on tape left on two vehicles targeted in Bearsted. Lukosevicius, of no fixed ad-
dress, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to steal and on June 15 was given a four-year prison term. Detective Constable Tony
Hatcher said: “Lukosevicius com- mitted a huge number of offences in just a fewmonths.Operating late at night, he targeted cars parked di- rectly outside homeswhile owners were sleeping. Lukosevicius’ main role was to carry tools to and from crime scenes and pass them to an accomplice,who in turnwould take apart the dashboard to remove equipment. “These crimes have left victims
and their insurance companieswith repair bills totalling more than £500,000. DCHatcher added that the police
have a DNA profile of a further of- fender also believed to be involved in these crimes.
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