Man jailed for stealing cars under pretence of purchase interest
Hamza Ali sentenced following theft and robbery in Peterborough
Hamza Ali, a 23-year-old man, has been jailed for nearly two years after using a deceptive scheme to steal cars.
Ali was arrested on 19th January following reports that he had stolen a car and was sitting in the vehicle outside his home in Watergall, Bretton, Peterborough.
He pretended to be interested in purchasing a Mercedes Coupe, even conducting a test drive with the victim present.
As the victim exited the vehicle to swap seats, Ali drove off with the car.
Investigations further revealed that Ali had executed a similar scheme in March 2025, where he met a victim in Ravensthorpe under the guise of buying a car and subsequently brandished a knife to steal it.
Ali was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment at Cambridge Crown Court on 30th July after admitting to robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, and driving while disqualified.
He also received a driving ban of 27 months and two days.
Detective Constable Pete Wise, involved in the investigation, highlighted the premeditated nature of Ali’s actions.
"The fact Ali used the same ploy twice showed his offending was planned, and he knew exactly what he was doing," Wise said.
The cooperation of the victims was crucial throughout the investigation, aiding in bringing Ali to justice.