Footage of Gravesend and Dartford car thefts as teen jailed

Footage has emerged showing one of several brazen car thefts in Dartford and Gravesend for which three teenagers were arrested.

The CCTV images posted online by Kent Police this evening (Wednesday, February 24) showed three young men seemingly steal a car from the driveway of a home after obtaining the victim's car keys inside the house.

Police said the vehicles were stolen from homes in Gravesend and Dartford on two seperate days in October by Dylan Monks in October 2020.

The 19-year-old, of Southbury Road, Enfield, admitted two burglaries and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court last Monday (February 15) to two years and five months’ in prison.

Kent Police

The first theft, which was corroborated by police with footage from the scene, took place on October 7 on Downs Avenue, Dartford, when the victim returned to find her car and a spare key missing.

The second theft took place when Monks was "one of three people who forced open the front door of a property in Thomas Drive, Gravesend, on October 15", police said.

Two cars were subsequently stolen from the target home, as visible in the CCTV footage.

Both cars abandoned in Mierscourt Road, Rainham, a short time after the theft and went on to detain two other people, both teenage males, nearby.

Kanie Russell, 19, has also admitted the burglary offences committed on October 15 and will be sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, March 4.

The third person involved, a 17-year-old boy from Hornchurch, also pleaded guilty to the October 15 offence.

Speaking after Monks was sentenced, Police Constable Ben Slocombe said: "In a very short space of time Monks has shown himself to be a repeat thief.

"He committed the offences for senseless reasons and in doing so left the victims feeling anxious in their own homes.

"I am pleased that we were able to gather sufficient evidence which left him with no option but to plead guilty and hope this result provides the victims with a degree of reassurance.

"I suspect it is very likely Monks would have continued to offend if he was not stopped when he was, and north Kent is a safer place with him in custody."