Workers used eBay to sell stolen car parts

A company director turned detective to expose three employees who helped steal more than £15,000 worth of car parts over a 15-month period, a court has heard.

Former valet workers Gareth Roberts, 28, of Leighton, near Shrewsbury, and Gary Kattenhorn, 31, of Leveson Close, Telford, both admitted stealing car parts and accessories before the cars went on to auction.

The pair were working at Greenhous Vauxhall in Shrewsbury.

The two men, accused of stealing more than £7,000 and £4,000 respectively, used three eBay accounts to sell the items, such as parcel shelves, first aid kits and literature packs, when the scam first started in January 2011.

When company director and general manager Dave Sullivan got suspicious, he marked a car booklet with an ultraviolet pen and put it back into a car due to be serviced before auction, Shrewsbury Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

The same handbook appeared for sale on eBay a few days later and when a friend of Mr Sullivan bought the item, they handed the unopened pack straight to police who discovered the same markings on it.

A third employee, Andrew Keeshan, 44, of Eaton Constantine, near Shrewsbury, pleaded guilty to dishonestly receiving stolen goods to the value of £1,900.

Becky Jones, prosecuting, said: "Mr Roberts had been providing Mr Keeshan with car parts which had been valeted and they were then advertised and sold on eBay with a 50 per cent split in proceeds.

"Mr Kattenhorn admitted that he had stolen items from vehicles on about 10 occasions as well as setting up an alias name called 'Dave Large' for an eBay account. Three accounts were used over a 15-month period and in total more than £15,000 worth was taken."

She added: "The police said that the items seized filled two riot vans from floor to roof."

Defence solicitor Jonathan Mason said while the men admitted to the charges, they disputed the amounts they are said to have stolen and all had previous good character.

All three were remanded on conditional bail and will face sentencing at Shrewsbury Crown Court at a date yet to be fixed.