thieves who they say displayed expensive stolen
goods on Facebook.
A judge last week sentenced Matthew Murphy, 23,
and Jonathan Dougan, 26, to nine years and four
months behind bars for a series of thefts across the
Greater Manchester area, The Manchester Evening
News reports.
The pair reportedly pleaded guilty to 14 thefts that
were committed between November 2012 and June
2013.
The thieves' downfall began in June 2013, when
someone alerted the owner of a stolen KTM
motorcycle that Dougan posted a photo of himself
posing with the stolen item on Facebook. The
owner tipped off police and investigators launched
a six-month police investigation, code named "Operation Exmoor."
Investigators said Murphy and Dougan posted
nearly 50 photos of themselves online with stolen
items, including a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle
and a Mercedes 'A' Class and a Mercedes E820.
In addition to the Facebook photos, investigators
assembled other evidence in the case, including
images they recovered from Murphy and Dougan's
cellphones.
At the time of Murphy and Dougan's arrest, they
were on parole for a previous robbery. A condition
of their parole prohibited the two from having
contact with each other, The Mirror reported.
In one instance, police say the men stole a Honda
Accord belonging to two cancer patients.
Authorities later found the vehicle wrapped around
a tree — an accident that reportedly occurred
following a 70mph police chase.
Manchester Crown Court Judge David Hernandez
addressed the young men's apparent arrogance at
their Feb. 20 sentencing hearing. He said they
glamorized their crimes and "blighted the lives" of
their victims.
"You took great pleasure in committing those
crimes," Hernandez said, according to The Express.
The Daily Mail reported a third man, Daniel Breeze,
19, admitted to conspiracy to steal in connection
with the thefts and is due to be sentenced next
month.
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