Three Manchester Men Jailed for Car Burglaries in Wilmslow

Three men from Manchester have been sentenced to prison after being convicted of targeting homes in Wilmslow to steal vehicles.

On the night of August 14, 2024, Declan Fitzgerald, Joseph Kyte, and Joshua Irving used a hire car to steal two vehicles from local residences.

Residents on Racecourse Road and Alveston Drive reported stolen cars the next morning after discovering that intruders had entered their homes to take the vehicles.

Cheshire Police responded and reviewed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) footage, which revealed the stolen Mini Countryman Cooper and BMW traveling in convoy with a third car, a BMW 320i.

Later that evening, the BMW 320i was spotted by Greater Manchester Police on the A580 East Lancs Road near Swinton. The police conducted a stop and arrested all four individuals, including Fitzgerald, Kyte, and Irving.

During the investigation, officers discovered a vehicle-grabbing key at Irving's home and found communications on their phones linking them to the thefts, including a text from Fitzgerald admitting to "robbing cars."

Investigators confirmed the BMW 320i was a hire car and, through telematics, located the stolen Mini in Warren Drive, Hale, Trafford. Evidence showed the hire car had moved from Kyte’s home to Irving’s before heading to Wilmslow and returning later to Manchester.

All three men pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and two counts of vehicle theft before sentencing at Chester Crown Court on April 7.

Declan Fitzgerald, 21, of Dorwood Avenue, was sentenced to 2 years in prison. Joseph Kyte, 33, of Charlestown Road, also received a 2-year sentence, while Joshua Irving, 21, was sentenced to 12 months.

Detective Sergeant Williams from Macclesfield CID commented on the sentences, stating, "It is clear that Fitzgerald, Kyte, and Irving are all prolific offenders... Burglary is a horrific offence... Thankfully, as a result of the evidence we gathered, they had no option but to plead guilty to the offences."

Williams added, "I hope the fact that the trio are now behind bars gives some closure to their victims, and I also hope this case acts as a warning to others considering committing crime in Cheshire."