Police seize 700 stolen car badges

Police have seized over 700 badges believed to have been stolen from cars in the Coventry area.

49-year-old badge thief Maxine-Ann Sokil was caught out when a potential buyer recognised a badge from Coventry Transport Museum on eBay.

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The amateur detective tipped off museum staff – who reported the discovery to police, the Coventry Telegraph reports.

When police raided Sokil’s flat they found the badges – which she insisted had been bought legitimately from scrap yards and car boot sales.

She was found guilty of theft, attempted theft and handling stolen property, and was given a 12 month community sentence and 10-week overnight curfew.

She was also ordered to pay £200 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Helen Whitehead, of West Midlands CPS, said: “In this case, most of the victims failed to report the theft of their car badges and this enabled Sokil to escalate her criminal activity. Although such crime may be viewed by some as low level, it is exactly this type of offending which blights communities and has an adverse effect on victims.”

On Bing: see pictures of car badges

Car badges - Name the car badge quiz

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By motoringresearch.com