A BUNGLING criminal gang are today behind bars after they brazenly posed for a picture sitting on top of a car they stole — before posting it on Facebook.
Miguel Di Palma, 21, and his pals wreaked havoc in their neighbourhood in Preston, Lancs.
The gang broke into homes in the middle of the night while the victims were in bed asleep and on one occasion even broke into a car to steal a Twix.
They were finally snared after one of the group posted a picture of an Audi Q5 they had pinched on Facebook – with three of the thugs posing with it.
The car had gone missing on November 20 last year and had been involved in a high-speed police chase.
Cops had to abandon the pursuit after its driving posed a “very real danger “to members of the public.
It followed a series of seven car thefts in the area starting on August 21 last year, which sparked a police probe called Operation Fuel.
A Ford Fiesta was the first to be taken and was later found with a bottle inside covered with the DNA of 20-year-old Aiden Craigie.
CAR THEFT FOR TWIX
On October 1 Suzuki Burgman scooter went missing and on October 20 an Alfa Romeo was pinched.
On November 20 the black Audi Q5 was taken along with a handbag and was later posted to Craigie’s Facebook page.
After the car was found, a bottle was retrieved with Di Palma’s DNA and fingerprints on it.
The spree continued on December 4 when a BMW 320ED was stolen during a burglary, along with a wallet and two cash cards.
In the following 24 hours, they were used at a Price Check and a One Stop shop.
On December 11 another BMW was taken just streets away from the last theft.
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Di Palma and the three youths pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary between August 21 and December 13, and conspiracy to commit thefts between the same dates.
Di Palma also admitted burgling a pharmacy between November 22 and 24.
The two 17-year-olds admitted three burglaries and one pleaded guilty to theft of a Ford Fiesta and theft of bicycles.
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