Four Charged With Countywide Vehicle Thefts

Detectives investigating a series of car thefts across Kent have charged four suspects.

All the vehicles were reported stolen overnight from outside addresses in Medway, Swale, Maidstone and Ashford, between Wednesday 4th December 2024 and Friday 24th January 2025. Enquiries were completed into each incident including the examination of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and CCTV footage.

At around 3.30am on Thursday 24th January, a resident at Orchard Heights, Ashford, contacted Kent Police to advise an attempt had been made to steal their car. Patrols were deployed to the area and a suspicious Kia Sportage was spotted on the A20. When the vehicle stopped at a service station the three occupants were arrested. A further suspect was later detained at an address in Gillingham.

Malcom Roydon, Fred Wreden (Jnr) both of Windmill Road, Gillingham; James Mason, of Tyne Gardens, South Ockenden, Essex; and Fred Wreden (Snr), of London Road Sittingbourne, were all charged with conspiracy to steal multiple motor vehicles.

Mr Royden, 54, Mr Wreden, 19, Mr Mason, 24, and Mr Wreden, 55, appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday (27th January). They were all remanded to a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday 24th February.