Professional cinematic 8k broadcast news graphic thumbnail featuring a high value car, parked roadside, lit up by streetlights in an urban nighttime scene. To the left, a vertical 9:16 portrait-ratio glass frame integrated into the shot, featuring a striking custom enhanced custody portrait of perpetrator, black or mixed race with large afro hair and a retro style moustache, captured against an iconic police suspect photo lines background. To the right of this, bold news headline text “400K CAR GANG CRACKED”.

Black country car thief admits £400k plot

Dudley man filmed himself scouting luxury cars before selling stolen vehicles worth £400,000 in encrypted group chats during organised Black Country theft…

Reported from court

Jason King

8 March 2026 at 00:00Updated 26 April 2026 at 08:562 min read

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Dudley man filmed himself scouting luxury cars before selling stolen vehicles worth £400,000 in encrypted group chats during organised Black Country theft conspiracy.

A man has admitted his role in a large-scale conspiracy to steal motor vehicles across the Black Country after an investigation into a series of high-value car thefts uncovered the organised targeting and resale of stolen vehicles.

Keltonjay Martin, 24, pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court to conspiracy to steal motor vehicles linked to the theft of more than a dozen cars with a combined value exceeding £400,000.

The offences took place between April and May 2023 and formed part of a wider pattern of vehicle thefts across the Black Country that prompted a detailed police investigation involving digital forensics and extensive CCTV analysis.

The court heard that Martin played a central role in identifying and targeting vehicles before returning to steal them. Investigators established that he communicated with others through an online group chat where potential targets and methods for stealing vehicles were discussed.

Officers found that Martin would conduct reconnaissance at locations where vehicles had been identified as suitable targets before later returning to steal them.

During the investigation, detectives recovered footage from Martin’s mobile phone showing him discussing vehicles he intended to steal. In one recording, while pointing out a black SUV, he could be heard saying: “I’ll house burgle that.”