A Sheffield teenager has been jailed for five years and three months after appearing before Sheffield Crown Court on Friday for breaking into dozens of homes to steal high-value cars.

Dylan Steele, aged 19, faced an initial set of 14 charges in June of this year. His charges included seven burglaries, one attempted burglary, and six motor vehicle thefts across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. Steele broke into homes in Bramley, Wickersley, Treeton (Rotherham), and Dronfield (North Derbyshire) between May and June this year.

Steele pleaded guilty to all of these charges, but he requested that the other 31 burglary offences be taken into consideration. The 31 offences occurred from September 2022 to June 2023 across Rotherham, Sheffield, and North Derbyshire, comprising ten additional offences in Rotherham (primarily in Aston, Swallownest, and Wickersley), four more in Sheffield, and 17 in North Derbyshire (mostly in Chesterfield and Dronfield).

His crimes add to the surging cases of car theft in the UK. According to data published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), vehicle theft in England and Wales increased by 24.9 percent in 2022, with 130,389 vehicles stolen compared to 104,435 in 2021. Theft from cars also increased by 9.9 percent, with 212,900 people having items stolen from their vehicles compared to 193,647 in 2021.

“We hope that seeing Steele imprisoned will provide some closure to the victims whose properties he targeted, and they can now start to move on with their lives,” said Investigation Officer Shannon Lake from Rotherham’s Neighbourhood Crime Team, who led the investigation.

Snapping locks to gain entry

Authorities revealed that Steele, whose targets were homes with “high value, premium vehicles,” had gained entry by snapping door locks. After breaking in, he would search for car keys and escape with the stolen vehicles. 

“May I take this opportunity to encourage homeowners to review their home security and consider upgrading their locks to three-star anti-snap locks, as these are more secure,” Officer Lake advised.

According to the Master Locksmiths Association, a three-star lock is a Euro cylinder that underwent rigorous attack testing in addition to the standard tests on one-star cylinders. These cylinders provide strong resistance against direct attacks, offering security enhancement for any door, regardless of the door material or handle used.

The Police recommend either SS312 Diamond locks or three-star locks to the public to enhance their home security. The SS312 Diamond standard has been put under the same tests as three-star locks, but it is generally accepted as a higher level of testing. These locks can provide similar, if not better, protection.

Keeping your cars safe at home

Just as high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are vulnerable to various threats, criminals often target high-value premium assets. This includes premium cars, among other assets.

Enhancing your residence’s security can be the first layer of protection while installing several security measures on the vehicle.

“You can also install CCTV systems and driveway security bollards or an overt security device on your vehicles such as wheel clamps or steering locks,” adds Officer Lake.

Car wheel clamps are devices that can immobilise vehicles by preventing the wheels from turning. They are typically metal or plastic and are famous for securing motorhomes, caravans, and trailers. 

Meanwhile, steering locks, as the name suggests, lock the steering wheel in place. Although a steering lock won’t make a car impossible to steal, it can deter thieves by making it more difficult and time-consuming.

Apart from these security measures, you can hire security agencies like Marengo to find the right residential security solutions. Their services may include internal and external patrols of your residence, 24/7 surveillance and even close protection officers.