East Suffolk pair jailed for keyless entry car thefts

Two men from Beccles and Bungay have been given prison sentences for stealing vehicles that used keyless entry.

Jeffrey McKeown, 39, of Hillside Road East, Bungay was arrested in April 2021, while Charlie Souter, 28, of Rigbourne Hill, Beccles, was arrested in June of the same year.

After entering guilty pleas, both appeared at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 16 January where McKeown received a custodial sentence of four years and five months, while Souter was jailed for three years and nine months.

In January 2021 Suffolk Constabulary launched an investigation into cross border thefts and attempted thefts of the following cars: Ford Fiesta ST, Ford Focus ST, Ford Kuga, Ford C-Max and Land Rover Range Rover. All vehicles have a keyless push start ignition.

The offences started in November 2020 and occurred within Norfolk and Suffolk, with some vehicles later being recovered in Kent and Essex. The investigation centred on the activities of an Organised Crime Group operating within East Anglia and Kent.

In total 15 vehicles were stolen, with a further nine attempted thefts, between November 2020 and June 2021. Eleven of the vehicles were recovered in varying states of repair and four are still outstanding. The vehicles stolen were valued at around £420,000.

Once stolen, the vehicles were then then either cut up for parts, which were then placed onto second-hand vehicles and sold on to unknowing innocent members of the public, or the stolen vehicles were used by the offenders whilst bearing false or stolen plates.

Following police investigations Souter was identified at several crime scenes. Stolen vehicle parts were recovered during a warrant at the home address of Jeffrey McKeown, while parts were also found at land used by him in Mutford.

Also found at McKeown’s home address was an amount of cocaine and cannabis.

McKeown and Souter were both arrested in 2021 in relation to these offences and later jointly charged with conspiracy to steal motor vehicles, with McKeown also being charged with possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector John Beales of Norfolk and Suffolk Constabularies’ Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “This was a long and thorough investigation and case build. Through comprehensive enquiries and collection of evidence, the two men arrested and charged had no option but to plead guilty to their crimes.

“While it is pleasing to see both men given lengthy sentences, we know there are other organised crime groups who have carried out similar activities and it is important all car users follow simple and easy crime prevention guidance, such as the use of signal blocking pouches for key fobs of keyless entry cars, to keep your vehicles secure.”

How to protect your keyless entry car

Additional physical security such as locks and immobilisers are still highly recommended.

For further car and vehicle theft crime prevention guidance, please visit: Preventing car and vehicle theft | Crime Prevention | Suffolk Constabulary

 Photos can be found via - https://www.suffolk.police.uk/news/suffolk/news/news/2026/january/east-suffolk-pair-jailed-for-keyless-entry-car-thefts/