Operation Chrysanthemum was created following a continued spate of moped, low powered motorcycles, electric bikes and scooter thefts occurring within Cambridge throughout 2021 and 2022. Between January 2022 and November 2022, over 300 vehicle thefts were reported in Cambridge City alone, for an estimated cost of half a million pounds.
The typical modus operandi for these incidents involved a number of offenders stealing such motorcycles and fleeing the area. The vehicles were generally then driven in an anti-social manner, causing varying degrees of damage, before being deposited, stored, destroyed or offered for sale.
Sentencing has been adjourned until January 2025.
Gregory Wedge and Danielle Byford were instructed by Philip Botterill from the Serious Crime Unit of CPS.