Four Men Jailed for £215,000 Bike Shop Burglary Conspiracy
Four men have been jailed for their roles in a large-scale burglary conspiracy that targeted electric bicycle shops across Hampshire and neighbouring counties, resulting in more than £215,000 worth of goods being stolen.
The gang was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Friday, 18 July, following a detailed investigation into a series of break-ins that took place between July and September 2023. The group used stolen vans and cloned number plates to travel across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Sussex, systematically targeting high-value commercial premises.
In total, investigators uncovered 11 separate burglaries, which included theft of vehicles, electric bikes, e-scooters, and other equipment. The operation affected businesses in Winchester, Basingstoke, Hook, Lee-on-the-Solent, Southampton, Warminster, Shaftesbury, and Crawley.
The convicted men are:
• Rhys Thornton, 30, of Pansy Road, Southampton – jailed for three years and four months
• Richard Adrian Chilton, 34, of Judges Gully Close, Bishopstoke – jailed for five years and three months
• Andrew Jozef Wooff, 32, of Wicks Place, Chelmsford – jailed for four years, with an additional two years for a separate unlawful wounding offence
• Martin William Meadows, 33, of Portswood Road, Southampton – jailed for four years and two months
All four previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary at hearings held between May and November 2024.
Targeted Premises and Offences:
• Good Directions, Curdridge – A van was stolen on 15 July 2023
• Hammoon Cycling, Shaftesbury – 7 bikes worth over £25,000 stolen on 31 July 2023
• Espokes, Basingstoke – 2 e-scooters stolen; £2,700 damage caused on 7 August 2023
• Cytronex, Winchester – 3 high-value bikes stolen on 7 August 2023
• Propain Bicycles, Crawley – 6 bikes worth £27,600 taken after van rammed into store on 14 August 2023
• The Cycle Company, Shawford – Attempted burglary; £756 in damage caused on 23 August 2023
• Gert Bikes, Warminster – 13 bikes and 7 batteries stolen worth £10,794 on 27 August 2023
• Bird Cycle Works, Hook – 5 bikes stolen worth £12,000 on 29 August 2023
• Lios Ride in Style, Lee-on-the-Solent – 11 custom bikes worth £103,297 stolen on 2 September 2023
• Sholing Videos/Vapes, Southampton – Vapes worth £13,788 stolen on 12 September 2023
• 99 Bikes, Totton – 3 bikes stolen worth £17,997 on 25 October 2023
During the course of the investigation, police recovered multiple stolen vehicles and number plates used during the crimes.
Police Statement
Detective Constable Sheryl Teather, who led the investigation, said:
“I am pleased with today’s result, after a long and complex investigation into this burglary conspiracy.
“These men brought misery to not only the businesses they targeted, but the local residents whose vehicles were stolen to enable them to commit these crimes.
“They believed they were above the law and would not get caught, but now justice has been served with all four/five men receiving custodial sentences.
“We have taken a very well planned, thought-out operation and got them off the streets and behind bars; where they will now spend a significant period of time for their troubles. Our collective actions have dismantled a very dangerous organised criminal gang and for that – I am incredibly thankful to all those involved in getting us to this stage.”
Top: Andrew Wooff, Richard Chilton
Bottom: Rhys Thornton, Martin
Meadows
