Thieves jailed for stealing 25 cars worth £600k

Two men have been jailed after admitting stealing 25 vehicles worth more than £600,000 - from across five counties.

Hertfordshire Police said the men were arrested following a "long running investigation" into organised thefts of high value cars, using specialist equipment to bypass keyless vehicle security systems.

Aurimas Sarkis, of Swallow Drive, Raunds, Northamptonshire and Ignas Kisskiss, of Sisley Road, Barking, east London, were sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Wednesday.

Sarkis, 29, was jailed for four years and one month and Kisskiss, 37, for four years and 10 months. They both admitted multiple counts of conspiracy to commit theft.

The force said that between October and December 2025, the men took Audis, BMWs and Mercedes from places in Baldock, Berkhamsted, Bishop's Stortford, Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead, Letchworth, Rickmansworth and Welwyn Garden City.

They also targeted vehicles in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire.

Det Sgt Chris Dale said the men would now be "subject to Proceeds of Crime legislation, to recover as much as possible to return to their victims".

He added the judge recommended they be deported when their sentences are complete.

"This type of crime is often linked to organised crime groups, who use specialist equipment to steal vehicles in seconds.

"We are targeting these gangs, working with our partners in neighbouring forces and using ANPR technology to track criminals using the road networks making Hertfordshire a hostile environment for them to operate in."

Aamir Barrett, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said the impact of the organised crime "extended well beyond financial loss".

"Many victims had to find alternative means of transport, were forced to replace essential items like children's buggies and, in one case, had to repurchase specialist equipment and medication for a disabled family member."

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