An organised crime gang have been jailed for ten years between them after admitting their part in a year-long £1million Renfrewshire car theft crimewave.
William Cairns, Mark Busby and Robert Busby used hi-tech equipment to steal high-end Ford cars and vans.
They successfully made off in motorhomes, transit vans, SUVs and sports cars thanks to specialist keys and electronic decoders.
The gadgets allowed them to gain entry to vehicles in 28 different towns, cities and villages, start the engines and drive away while causing little to no damage to the motors.
But technology also proved to be their downfall, with police officers probing the gang discovering their mobile phones were detected near the location of a number of the thefts.
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Court papers show each theft was connected to serious organised crime.
But now the “Fast and Furious” trio have been jailed and a Serious Crime Prevention Order has been imposed against the three criminals.
Defence agent for William Cairns and Mark Busby, Terry Gallanagh told the court these men were not intelligent individuals.
He said: “When looking for inspiration to direct your lordship today, I saw a movie on the TV which involved cars and car theft.
“The Fast and Furious was the movie and when looking at William Cairns and Mark Busby, it is clear they would not be very capable of moving very fast but they have caused much fury.
“These are hopeless men, hopeless car thefts leaving behind their DNA, leaving their trace on video, carrying their phones and using them at the scenes which identified themselves as the owners of the mobile numbers, they are not smart, they are not slick, they are rather pathetic and not particularly bright.
“But they both have asked I apologise on their behalf to those involved in the thefts and the public at large.”
Paisley Sheriff Court previously heard, Mark Busby, 38, admitted stealing a Ford Transit motorhome valued at approximately £32,000 from Mains Drive in Erskine in January 2020.
Cairns, 36, admitted stealing a white Ford Focus RS worth approximately £30,000 from a property in Renfrew’s Craigielea Road on May, 21, 2020.
Mark and Robert Busby, 39, and Cairns all admitted stealing a white Ford Transit van from Steeple Street in Kilbarchan on June 3, 2020.
Paul Lynch, representing Robert Busby, and told how prior to his criminal career, he was a self-employed electrician.
Mr Lynch said: “While working Robert Busby could meet his financial requirements but in 2019, work dried up and he only worked one or two days per week.
He accepts responsibility and has expressed his regret.”
Sheriff Tom McCartney jailed all three men stating: “Given the nature of these offences were repeated, clandestine, they were planned and given the value of the vehicles stolen, there is no suitable alternative to imprisonment.”
William Cairns was jailed for four years, Mark Busby was jailed for three years and four months and Robert Busby was jailed for two years and eight months.
Sheriff McCartney granted the Crown’s application for a Serious Crime Prevention Order which limits the number of electronic devices each man can possess.
This was granted for five years coming into effect when each of the three men are released from jail.
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