Jailed: Burglars get 10 years for stealing expensive cars in Shropshire

Roy Day, 29, and Gerard Lundie, 26, both admitted one charge each of conspiracy to commit burglary at 13 houses in Birmingham, Staffordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire, between September and December 2014.

All the homes were broken into overnight while the householders were asleep in bed.

Lundie and Day hit Shrewsbury overnight on 29 and 30 November, they targeted homes in Lythwood Road, Glebe Road and Langley Drive at Bayston Hill. Two Audi S3s were stolen in these burglaries with Lundie's DNA linking him to the offences.

Finally, on 2 December, the pair focused on a home in Barnfield Close in Oswestry, Shropshire, stealing an Audi A6 and Astra from the driveway. Both vehicles were later recovered in Streetly with Lundie's DNA being found inside the Astra and enquiries showing Day was in Shropshire at the time of the offence.

The crime spree began on 18 September when a home in Calshot Road, Great Barr was broken into. A Citroen C4 and widescreen television were stolen from the property.

Lundie was first arrested seven days after the stolen C4 was seen speeding off from officers in Erdington. Lundie was detained hiding in a nearby bush after fleeing the car. He admitted driving the vehicle but said he had no involvement in the burglary and did not know the car was stolen.

Despite knowing officers were onto him, Lundie – along with Day – continued to plot more burglaries.

On 20 October, a house in Kingsleigh Drive, Castle Bromwich, was broken into and a Kia car was stolen from the drive. The car was later found abandoned in November in Boldmere, with Lundie's DNA found inside.

Another Kia was stolen from the driveway of a property in Cooksey Lane, Kingstanding, in the early hours of 26 October. Police enquires showed that Day was in the area at the time.

On 15 November, they targeted a house in Fielding Close, Atherstone, Warwickshire. They could not get into the home but Day left his DNA on a screwdriver found at the scene.

Between 19 and 20 November, four burglaries took place in the Great Barr area: a Citroen C3 was stolen from a house on Blakeland Road, a Kia and a Nissan Qashqai were taken from a Brackenfield Road address and there were two unsuccessful attempts at homes in Warren Hill Road and Oscott School Lane. Forensic evidence recovered from one of the cars stolen in this offence was linked to Lundie.

On 23 November, an Audi A5 and Vauxhall Corsa were stolen from a house in Canterbury Way in Cannock. The Corsa was later found abandoned after crashing into a telegraph pole in Streetly, with Day's DNA being found on the driver's airbag.

Lundie was arrested on December 3 after he sped off from officers in Kingstanding. Travelling at speeds of around 100mph through streets in Brownhills, Lundie abandoned the car and was detained by officers while waiting at a nearby bus stop.

Examination of Lundie's phone while in custody led officers to identify Day as a suspect and enabled them to match his DNA to the crime scenes.

Day, of Saltley Cottages, Erdington and Lundie, of no fixed abode, were each sentenced to five years and four months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court on April 7.

Detective Sergeant Dave Bebb led the investigation to catch them. He said: "Day and Lundie terrorised residents across the West Midlands, targeting their homes in the dead of night to steal expensive vehicles from the driveway.

"Local people should be reassured by the lengthy sentences handed to the pair and can sleep a little safer in their beds at night knowing these prolific burglars are now behind bars.

"Burglary can have a devastating impact on victims, often leaving them feeling uneasy and scared in their own homes. I hope the terms given to Day and Lundie also provide some comfort to their victims and helps them to put their ordeal behind them."