Six men charged in connection with series of keyless vehicle thefts in Hertfordshire

Six men have been charged as part of an investigation into a series of high-end vehicle thefts across Hertfordshire and the surrounding counties.

The men were arrested after a warrant was executed in East Herts on Friday, May 7.

The operation was the culmination of a long-running investigation by the constabulary’s Tactical Resources team, supported by colleagues from the Serious and Organised Crime Command.

The men have all been charged with conspiracy to steal - between 6 November, 2020 and 7 May, 2021 - and using apparatus for the purpose of interfering with wireless telegraphy - between 6 November, 2020 and 7 May, 2021.

They are:

> Marijus Mickeliunas, 25, of Barnmead Gardens, Dagenham

> Davidos Astravas, 32, of Rosemary Gardens, Dagenham

> Arturas Navikas, 37, of Lambourne Crescent, Chigwell

> Martynas Kuzma, 19, of Welling road, Orsett

> Andrius Semenkovas, 31, of Welling road, Orsett

> Yuozas Velicka, 20, of Welling Road, Orsett.

All six have been remanded into custody and are due to appear at St Albans Crown Court for a pre-trial preparation hearing on Monday, June 7.

Investigators have so far linked 44 offences to the series, committed across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, London and Surrey – 30 of those were in Hertfordshire.

The offences occurred in Berkhamsted, Borehamwood, Croxley Green, Cuffley, Hatfield, Potters Bar, Sawbridgeworth, Watford, Welwyn Garden City and St Albans

Three ‘chop shops’ have also been identified, where stolen vehicles are dismantled so that the parts can be sold or used to repair other stolen vehicles.