A car thief was hunted down by police after he registered his mobile phone under the name Memphis Reigns – Nicolas Cage’s character in car crime drama Gone in 60 Seconds.
A nationwide hunt was launched after a series of high value thefts across Tayside and Fife.
Steven Mason, who has more than 30 convictions for car crime, struck at sheds, homes and outbuildings in Cupar, Perth and Arbroath, making off with an £80,000 haul including a Volkswagen Golf, two dirt bikes, a motorcross machine, three racing cycles and accessories.
He was traced by police after they found his DNA on a cigarette end inside the stolen VW Golf, which was abandoned some 80 miles away on the east coast.
Mason was jailed for more than two years after he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted six charges of theft.
The court heard he hoped the crime spree would help rekindle his relationship with his former partner.
In Gone in 60 Seconds, Nicolas Cage leads a gang of car thieves trying to steal a boatload of high-value vehicles in a single night to save his brother’s life.
After-dark raids
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie said Mason raided a shed behind the Byre, Balvaird Farm, at Strathmiglo, Cupar, in the early hours of August 7 2021.
He stole keys and a wallet, before making off with a £14,150 dirt bike and £15,000 worth of tools.
On August 24, he broke into a house in Perth’s Kinmond Drive and snatched keys and money, before getting away in the owner’s £20,000 Volkswagen Golf.
Ms Ritchie said: “At about 1.25am, the owner awoke, although he wasn’t sure what had disturbed him.
“He noticed his downstairs hall light, which works on a motion sensor, was on.
“He looked out of his window and saw his car in the driveway.
“He heard the engine start and it drove away.”
Mason had forced his way through the property’s patio doors.
Days later, he stole an £8,000 red Honda dirt bike and nearly £2,000 worth of equipment from a shed in Newbigging Drive, Arbroath.
Later that morning, an avid motorcross enthusiast and cyclist in the town’s Parkview Gardens received a call about the break-in.
When he went to check his own shed, he noticed his motorcross machine and three race bikes were stolen, along with equipment.
The total taken from the property was £23,960, said Ms Ritchie.
To catch a thief
The fiscal depute said Mason was finally caught after officers discovered the abandoned VW Golf in Dunbar.
Inside, they found about £2,200 worth of tools from the house in Cupar and items that were stolen from the homes in Arbroath.
Ms Ritchie said: “Also in the vehicle was a cigarette end, which was analysed and contained the DNA of the accused.
“A number known to be associated with the accused was provided to investigators and came back as being registered to Memphis Reigns at an address in Edinburgh.
“Memphis Reigns is the name of the main character in the film Gone in 60 Seconds.”
Police ordered CCTV from shops where the phone had been topped up.
Footage obtained from an Asda in Dunbar showed Mason at the till.
He was also caught on camera at a Shell garage where he used the phone to make a call.
Cell site data also placed Mason in the general area of the crime scenes at the time of the thefts.
Tried to rekindle relationship
Solicitor Steven Donald, defending, said: “Clearly a custodial sentence is merited, particularly given his schedule of previous convictions.”
Mason began offending at 17, when he was part of a gang of car thieves.
The lawyer said: “Most of his cohorts from that time have moved on and graduated to other things but Mr Mason has been unable to do so thus far.”
The court heard he lost his job during lockdown and was kicked out by his “long-suffering” partner.
He moved into a caravan on an industrial estate and fell into his old ways.
“These crimes were not committed in furtherance of a drug habit,” Mr Donald said.
“These items were sold on and the money was given to his partner in an effort to try and rekindle the relationship.”
Sheriff David Hall told Mason: “It is clear that only a custodial sentence can be imposed in this case.
“There was a high value involved here and you have a bad record.
“You also travelled to this area to commit these offences.”
Mason was jailed for 22 months.
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