Massive Ammunition Heist Uncovered
A sophisticated criminal network has been brought to justice after orchestrating the audacious theft of more than 330,000 live bullets from a lorry parked in the Sutton Coldfield area of Birmingham. The heist, which took place in the early hours of February 17, 2021, saw the gang make off with a colossal haul of .22 calibre LR rimfire ammunition, posing what law enforcement officials later termed an "unimaginable threat to public safety".
The Elaborate Crime and Police Investigation
Operating under the cover of darkness, the criminals targeted a parked lorry, breaking into it and systematically transferring 66 boxes of ammunition into their own Leyland DAF lorry, which was fitted with false registration plates. Following the successful raid, the gang immediately embarked on a 100-mile journey to West Yorkshire, aiming to distance themselves from the scene of the crime.
Police launched a major, multi-force investigation in response. Through meticulous analysis of CCTV footage and other intelligence, officers were able to track the suspect vehicle's movements to Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. Here, the stolen ammunition was unloaded into a storage unit on Lock Street before being transferred into a Fiat Scudo van.
In a series of coordinated raids across Leeds and Kirklees, officers closed the net on the organised crime group. A significant breakthrough came with a search in the Farnley area, where authorities located the Fiat van and successfully recovered 64 of the 66 stolen boxes. The Leyland DAF lorry used in the initial theft was later discovered at a farm in Aberford.
Sentencing and Official Reaction
At Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, November 26, the final chapter of the complex case was written as the group was sentenced. Five men received immediate prison terms, while three others were handed suspended sentences.
The convicted individuals are:
- John Bull, 40, of Batley: 4 years in prison.
- Anver Valli, 51, of Dewsbury: 4 years and 9 months in prison.
- James Coffey, 47, of Morley: 3 years and 3 months in prison.
- Damien Cooper, 34, of no fixed address: 2 years and 3 months in prison.
- Harrison Pratt, 28, of Batley: 3 years and 6 months in prison.
- Anas Rasool, 29, of Dewsbury: 16-month suspended sentence.
- Paul Singh, 45, of Leeds: 12-month suspended sentence.
- Jamie Patel, 39, of Leeds: 15-month suspended sentence.
Detective Inspector Al Teague from the West Midlands Police Major Crime Unit emphasised the gravity of the offence, stating, "The threat that this ammunition could have posed to public safety was hard to imagine. All law enforcement agencies involved were determined to safely recover the boxes, and bring those involved to justice."
Echoing this sentiment, DCI David Shaw of West Yorkshire Police’s Precision Serious Organised Crime Unit highlighted the successful inter-agency cooperation. "It is hard to imagine an offence which can pose as great a potential risk to public safety," he said, adding that the operation demonstrated their capacity to "track crime networks across the country and swiftly implement large scale operations."
