Posing proudly with the vehicles they stole, these two criminals must rank among the stupidest in Britain.
Jonathan Dougan, 26, and Matthew Murphy, 23, took motorbikes, high-performance cars and bottles of champagne from their victims’ homes in a seven-month campaign.
But the dim-witted pair – who were both on parole from prison – came unstuck when they posted dozens of incriminating images on Facebook.
A pair of thieves were caught by police after posting pictures on Facebook of them posing with luxury stolen cars and bikes on Facebook. Matthew Murphy, seen posing with a car on his Facebook page
Matthew Murphy on a stolen Suzuki. They pair were caught when the owner of the KTM motorbike they stole was tipped off that Dougan was responsible and logged on to find a Facebook snap of the thief straddling it
Police were able to use evidence on the social-networking site to track them down and convict them
Jonathan Dougan, 26, left, and Matthew Murphy, 23, right, took photographs of the loot they stole in raids across north Manchester, Bury and Salford
Almost 50 shots were uploaded on to the social media site, as the two career criminals bragged of their loot.
Acting on a tip-off from one of the victims, police officers were simply able to download all the evidence they needed.
Last night the two men, both from Salford, were behind bars after they were each sentenced to nine years and four months in prison.
A police source said: ‘This pair may be a few sandwiches short of a picnic but they will have plenty of time to reflect on their stupidity.
Victims included a Broughton couple who were both being treated for cancer
The pair - both on parole from jail - came unstuck after they bragged about their life of crime on the social media network by posting a string of pictures of them larking about with the stolen gear
The pair appear to be obsessed with bikes and their Facebook pages show them posing with several different motorcyles
‘For months they carried out systematic raids on people’s homes and made off with a huge haul of expensive motorbikes and cars. Thankfully they were the architects of their own downfall and we hope that when they are finally released from prison they realise a life of crime is not their strong suit.’
The thieves had both been jailed in 2008 for nine years after using baseball bats and knives to carry out a series of armed robberies. But they were freed on licence in 2012, after serving half their jail sentence, and returned to crime.
In their latest stealing spree in the Manchester area between November 2012 and June 2013 they carried out at least 15 raids. Among their haul were a number of high-value vehicles including a £30,000 Mercedes E820.
But in June last year the owner of a KTM motorbike they stole was tipped off that Dougan was responsible and logged on to find a Facebook photo of the thief straddling it.
Police then discovered a treasure trove of evidence as well as online entries with Murphy bragging about how he worked ‘for meself’ and photos of Dougan posing with a £50 note stuck to his head.
Dougan and Murphy pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court to conspiring to steal.
Photos on Facebook show the pair posing with alcohol and fifty pound notes as part of their boastful lifestyle
Murphy poses for a photo on his Facebook page. A third man, Daniel Breeze, 19, also from Salford, is due to be sentenced next month after he admitted conspiracy to steal
Sentencing Dougan and Murphy judge David Hernandez said they were 'glamourising' their offending and had enjoyed committing their crimes
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