A trio of devious robbers, whose tricks included posing as a construction worker for a series of cash-in-transit robberies across Greater Manchester, were jailed today.
Adam Brown, 30, and Ryan Corrie, 29, were both sentenced to six years eight months imprisonment after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery.
Meanwhile Brian Newton, 29, was given a six year sentence after being found guilty following a trial of conspiracy to commit robbery.
The trio stole a cash box from a security guard making a delivery to the Natwest bank in Bramhall Lane South, Stockport at around 11.45am on Thursday December 6 last year.
A full investigation was launched and following an examination of Corrie’s home, traces of a security marking were found that matched anothercash in transit robbery in Prestwich on August 25.
CRAFTY CRIMINALS: Adam Brown in disguise as a construction worker
Detective Constable Chris Chinnery from Greater Manchester Police’s Serious Organised Crime Group said this case demonstrated the significant work that goes into tackling armed robberies.
He said: “Within an hour of the robbery taking place on 6 December 2012, a team of officers had swooped on a house in Swinton, recovered the full amount of cash and arrested those responsible, before they had even had chance to count their loot.”
Newton waited in a stolen Nissan Primera with false licence plates outside the Natwest bank, while Brown stood outside the bank disguised in a high-vis jacket and a workman’s yellow hard hat.
Brown then ran up and pushed the security guard before attempting to steal the cash box he was carrying.
Brown hit the guard on his hand with an unknown object, causing him to let go of the box allowing Brown to return to the vehicle where the pair drove off.
They swapped cars at Kitts Moss Lane, where they got into another stolen vehicle with false plates to drive to Corrie’s home on Carlisle Street in Swinton.
The cash was then extracted from the box with the use of a Stihl chain saw, which was then placed into carrier bags.
Police arrived at the house at around 12.25pm, finding the dye-stained cash in carrier bags on the floor with the saw next to them, and the empty cash box stashed in the oven.
A police investigation found traces of Smartwater, a security marking, which matched another robbery that took place at Tesco Express on Bury Old Road in Prestwich on August 25 2012.
DC Chinnery added: “GMP and the security industries use a range of tactics to not only detect, but deter, the activities of robbers who target cash in transit vans.
“Some of these tactics have been evidenced here, with traces of Smartwater helping us to convict two men for their roles in two other robberies that they simply thought they had got away with.”
The full amount of cash was recovered at the address, while the security guard only suffered a minor injury to his hand.
Police found that the circumstances of the Tesco robbery were very similar to those used in another Natwest robbery in Bury New Road on September 25.
Brown once again waited outside for the security guard, pushing him with so much force that he stumbled into the road, causing him to drop the box.
Brown took the box and ran off, before getting into a blue Mercedes C180 – a vehicle also used in the Bury New Road robbery.
The cash box taken from this Natwest robbery was located in waste land just off Hinchley Way in Swinton, close to Corrie’s address.
The box had an ‘X’ cut into the side of it, which was identical to the one found at Corrie’s home on December 6.
DC Chinnery concluded: “I hope all those who have been affected by the crimes committed by these three men can take some solace in seeing them put behind bars today for their actions.”
Adam Joseph Brown, of Gardner Street, Pendleton and Ryan George Corrie, of Hacking Street, Cheetham Hill were both sentenced to six years eight months imprisonment.
Brian Charles Newton, of Cedar Place, Lower Broughton was sentenced to six years imprisonment.
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