A father and son duo who hid a stash of stolen goods in their Gravesend caravan have been jailed for six years.

Arunas Simkus, 45, and Marius Simkus, 25, were arrested after one of their many victims used the find my iPad app to trace a stolen tablet to a site in Valley Road – where the pair had parked a caravan and a Mercedes Sprinter van.

Kent Police were called on November 10 last year and found the two vehicles crammed full of stolen items, including a pushchair and travel cot, but the Simkus’ denied any wrongdoing.

The former Thistle Road residents claimed they were asleep in their caravan when the crimes took place, and also blamed an unnamed friend for supposedly selling them the stolen items.

Map: The duo were staying in a caravan in Valley Road (A). They previously lived in Thistle Road (B). They travelled to Groombridge (C), Hawkhurst (D) and Sussex (not marked) to steal.

Car parts, gardening tools and more tablets, linked to two burglaries and two car thefts in Groombridge and Hawkhurst, were found in the search – as well as items taken during four thefts in Sussex.

The pair appeared at Maidstone Crown Court charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary and theft from a motor vehicle in relation to the offences – which all took place between September and November last year.

Marius Simkus was found guilty by a jury of two counts of theft, conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to steal and burglary. He was sentenced to three years behind bars on Friday (May 13). 

Arunas Simkus pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and three thefts. He was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

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Leading investigator Sergeant Dave Higham said: “This investigation shows, once again, the value of installing tracking software on the likes of tablets and mobile phones.

“The victim who did so in this case managed to lead us directly to Arunas and Marius Simkus.

“These two men were responsible for a crime spree, during which they stole almost anything they could get their hands on.

“They are now paying the price for their crimes and what is also pleasing is that we have been able to recover most of the items which were stolen.”