A man from an organised crime group working from Westbury who stole cars and tools worth £365,000 was found guilty of conspiracy to handle stolen goods at Swindon Crown Court.

Marcin Kosma, 34, Marleys Way, Frome, was also found guilty of four charges of handling stolen goods during Monday’s proceedings.

After being contacted by a member of the public, on July 9, 2011, Wiltshire Police found a Polish lorry containing a John Deere 6230 Tractor and JCB mini digger tractor, parked at the West Wilts Trading Estate, with both being stolen from Gloucestershire.

A lock up in Engineer Road was also searched with stolen property including a Toyota Landcruiser, a Noble Sports car, a Renault lorry, and a Massey Fergusson Tractor being found as well as parts and tools.

The lock up was rented by Kosma, with the property being stolen from Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Birmingham. He was arrested on July 15, 2011.


During Wiltshire Police’s investigation they worked with officers in Poland and discovered that Kosma was part of an organised crime group.

Detective superintendant Andy Cross, of Wiltshire Police, said: “We have successfully neutralised an organised crime group operating out of Wiltshire, with the clear intent of removing stolen machinery from the UK into europe.

“Wiltshire Police are dedicated to tackling this type of crime and it is a force priority which involves officers at all levels working together.

"It is important to note the value of members of the public reporting anything they think is suspicious to police, as in this case, a member of the public helped alert officers to an organised crime group in their area.”

DS Cross said that he hoped this case would act as a deterrent to others considering setting up similar operations in Wiltshire.

Kosma was remanded into custody and will be sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on August 7.