Mindaugas Grizas, of Thetford, and Lukas Zvirgzdys sentenced after stealing Mercedes S Class in Breckland

A pair of car thieves have been sentenced after stealing a Mercedes S Class by using a signal relay device.

Mindaugas Grizas, 36, of no fixed address in Thetford and Lukas Zvirgzdys, 18, of Hillburn Road, Wisbech, used the device to take the car from a driveway in Breckland at 2.30am on April 7.

However, their plan was foiled when the sound of the engine alerted the vehicle's owner who called police.

Officers stopped the car just 12 minutes later and found one of the men still wearing a balaclava in the passenger seat, with the signal relay device in the footwell and a GPS jammer device still transmitting.

Both men were arrested at the scene and charged later that day with stealing the car and using apparatus for the purpose of interfering with wireless telegraphy.

Grizas also faced charges for driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Both were remanded in custody and appeared at Norwich Magistrates Court on April 8 where they both pleaded guilty.

At Norwich Crown Court today, Grizas was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment and 24 months disqualification from driving while Zvirgzdys was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service.

Sergeant Gary Morris, Breckland District Crime Unit, said: “This is a timely reminder to take simple steps to keep your vehicle safe.

“The easiest thing to do if you have ‘keyless’ technology is to buy a faraday box or pouch which you can get cheaply and easily online.

“This blocks the signal from the keys meaning it can not be picked up by a relay device outside your home. “