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Police chase car thieves
on the M2

This is the terrifying moment police chased a gang of luxury car
thieves who rammed them and went the wrong way down the M2.

Three Lithuanians - thought to be part of a major crime
syndicate - have now been jailed for stealing a batch of
motors worth around £317,000.

Marius Sabaliauskas, Vythutas Lauresevicius and Arenidas
Petrauskas had gone on a burgling spree across the South East
breaking into a series of homes.

As the owners slept, the career criminals swiped their car keys
and made off with the expensive motors parked outside.

Cars they stole included a Porsche 911, several top end Mercedes
motors and two BMWs - all stolen to order.

Police put them under surveillance and eventually caught up with
them in Whitstable when they stole one car too many.

On December 7 last year the gang drove down from London in a
Vauxhall Vectra, broke into a house and stole a Range Rover.

Officers spotted them and gave chase to the two vehicles along
Thanet Way towards London.

The Range Rover then made a sharp U-turn and started to drive
the wrong way along the London-bound M2 carriageway.

It then turned round again and headed back towards London before
coming to a halt on the M2 between junction 5 and the Medway
Services.

During the chase, Canterbury Crown Court heard the cars rammed
police three time before stopping.

Lauresevicius, 26, was driving the vehicle and was arrested.

Sabaliauskas, 25, was driving the Vectra and his passenger,
Petreuskas , 29, and was also arrested.

The three, all from London, were sentenced at Canterbury Crown
Court today after pleading guilty to a series of burglaries.

Petrauskas admitted being part of the burglary at Whitstable,
Griskevicius admitted the Whitstable burglary and seven others and
Lauresevicius admitted Whitstable and six others.

Detective Inspector Eddie Fox, who led the investigation, said:
"These three men were part of a Lithuanian crime group who are
responsible for a significant number of burglaries in the south of
England and these convictions are the tip of the iceberg.

"Members of their gang trawl the region looking for good quality
cars on driveways of homes, with them or others returning later to
steal them.

"There can be no doubt that they came to England with the sole
intention of committing crime.

"This type of crime is becoming more prevalent and householders
are urged to review their home's security and ensure that car keys
are not left in a place where they can be easily found by
intruders."

Judge Adele Williams described the three as sophisticated
professional criminals.

She said they had put their own lives and those of
others' at risk.

Judge Williams went on to commend the investigating officers for
a professional and thorough investigation.

The trio were handed a total of 13 and a half years behind
bars.

Speaking after today's hearing, Senior
Crown Prosecutor Chris Mayo said: "These men’s’ actions involved
premeditated professional planning.

"They targeted the victims whilst they
were asleep leaving most feeling frightened and vulnerable in their
own homes.

"They were not only responsible for
the theft of vehicles, but people’s possessions too.

"Due to the thoroughness of the police
investigation the strength of the evidence against them was
overwhelming.

"We are pleased that this case has
been brought to a successful conclusion and that these men will no
longer be able to carry out their criminal activity."