A RINGLEADER of a ‘semi-professional’ robbery gang has been jailed for more than 14 years after a string of offences, including a number with Saddleworth links.
Kyle Camp bragged about the vehicles he had stolen with another member of a gang.
But after admitting three counts of burglary, six counts of theft, six counts of robbery, and two counts of handling stolen goods, he has been told he would serve a minimum of two thirds of his 14 year four month sentence in prison.
Camp and his gang that targeted innocent people as they slept, had just arrived home from work and as they prayed.
Over a period of time, he and his teenage acquaintances went on what was described as ‘a ruthless spree of offending.’
A Greater Manchester Police (GMP) spokesperson said: “Often stealing several cars in one night.
“Approaching several victims, they threatened them with violence if they didn’t hand over their car keys, often armed with knives or tools.”
A car that had been stolen from the Moston area of Manchester was recovered on Thornley Close, Grotton, displaying false number plates.
From inside the car, police seized a snood from the driver’s door and when examined, a partial DNA match was found, linked to Camp.
On Thursday, June 16, 2022, a man left his friend’s house in Uppermill and made his way home.
During this journey he felt that he was being followed by a grey BMW. ANPR evidence confirmed this.
As the victim parked on his drive and exited his car he was approached by two men, Camp – of Moston – and Ryan Pearce, who was jailed in September and 2023, after pleading guilty to the offence.
He was violently assaulted, threatened with a knife, and pinned to the ground. The offenders stole the keys and ran off to a grey BMW and left the scene.
The next day, officers recovered the car, which had false plates on but enquires revealed it was stolen nights earlier.
He was also linked with offences in Tameside, Chadderton, Rochdale and Middleton.
Following an intricate investigation, codenamed Operation Napoleon, Camp became the ninth man to be sentenced on Friday, January 24.
Through the original investigation, detectives soon identified Camp as being involved. An image from one of the original defendants’ phone showed the car they had stolen, taken during what seemed to be a reconnaissance.
When he was arrested in October 2022, a download of his phone showed him communicating with Camp, with the 30-year-old bragging about the cars he’d stolen.
He was arrested at 11:30pm on July 12, 2023, and despite answering ‘no comment’ to every question and originally pleading not guilty, he was locked up.
Jailing him at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said: “This was semi-professional.
“You are as responsible as those who armed themselves. You had no regard as offences were committed in broad daylight in front of many witnesses.”
Detective Constable Chris Chinnery, from GMP’s Serious Organised Crime Group, said: “Kyle Camp’s crimes not only had significant financial implications for our victims, but most distressing, they had huge emotional impacts on victims who were either violently assaulted or threatened with weapons by Camp. One man was left feeling so unsafe that he felt he had no choice but to move to a different part of the country.
“This case included hours of meticulous searching through mobile phone evidence, tracing messages involving numerous people, across multiple phones and social media channels as deals were done and Camp bragged about his stolen cars, showing complete disregard the victims.”
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