Manchester Police began an investigation after multiple burglaries targeting expensive cars took place in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, and Derbyshire.
The Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit found a connection between the burglaries and stolen luxury vehicles, which led to identifying Damon Keegan as a suspect. The Serious Organised Crime Group then took over the investigation, and a surveillance operation was launched to collect evidence.
On Friday, 27 September 2023, Damon Keegan, born on 5 November 1992 and from Woodland View, Hyde, appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.
He admitted to conspiracy to commit burglary, seven counts of burglary, one attempted burglary, eight counts of vehicle theft, one count of carrying tools used for theft, and three counts related to handling stolen goods and dangerous driving. As a result, Keegan was sentenced to six years and 11 months in prison.
When Keegan was arrested on 22 November 2023, police found him in possession of a radio frequency jamming device. This type of device can block mobile and Wi-Fi signals and is commonly used by criminals.
During the investigation, police also discovered a garage near his home, which seemed to be used for planning burglaries. Inside, they found a bag with lockpicking tools, blank car keys, a spy camera, a sledgehammer, a blowtorch, and other burglary-related equipment.
Over a 12-month period, Keegan stole cars worth nearly £350,000 using various methods, which made homeowners feel unsafe. In one instance in May 2023 in Knutsford, an alarm went off, forcing him to leave behind a jamming device.
A DNA test on the device confirmed it belonged to Keegan. In another case in October 2023, he disconnected the Wi-Fi at a house in Lymm to prevent the doorbell camera from notifying the owner, allowing him to steal a black BMW X5.
Despite being on an electronic curfew between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., Keegan continued to commit burglaries, stealing vehicles like an Audi A3 in Timperley and an Audi S3 from Stockport and Congleton. Data from his monitoring system showed he was not at home during the times of the burglaries.
On 2 November 2023, an Audi S3 was stolen from Glossop. The car was later found at a garage in Blackley before being taken to Leeds for significant modifications.
When it was recovered, the Audi S3 had been altered to look like an Audi A3, using parts from another Audi A3 that Keegan had previously stolen. False plates were also used to hide the car’s real identity. Police also found additional tools, telescopic ladders, and stick-on vehicle registration plates in the car.
