THREE men who “wreaked havoc” have been jailed for more than 80 thefts across Waverley earlier this year.

Marc Masterton, 22, of Montgomerie Road, Southsea, Scott Gaffney, 20, of Milton Road, Southsea, and Denzel Fewings, 19, of The Grove, Portland, Dorset, were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on September 11 after pleading guilty to numerous offences at an earlier hearing.

Surrey Police officers were first alerted after they received numerous reports from residents in Cranleigh whose cars had been targeted by the trio over a single night.

The three men continued targeting cars in other areas of Waverley, including Godalming and Farncombe, travelling from Dorset and Hampshire to steal valuables that had been left in the vehicles overnight.

Waverley’s specialist neighbourhood team and the local proactive unit identified the suspects and they were charged with 88 offences between them.

Masterton and Gaffney pleaded guilty to three charges of conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to steal from motor vehicles and conspiracy to commit fraud and were sentenced to 37 months and 30 months imprisonment respectively. Fewings pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to steal from motor vehicles and conspiracy to commit fraud and was sentenced to 10 months in a young offenders institution.

Waverley borough commander Inspector Gary Smith said: “The sentences imposed on the offenders demonstrates the seriousness that the police and courts place on the behaviour of people who wreak havoc in local communities.

“It also demonstrates the importance of the public reporting matters to the police. In some cases, insecure vehicles were entered and nothing was taken and some residents were unsure whether to report this.

“Reporting any suspicious behaviour, however, assists us in building up an extensive picture of illegal activity.”