A prolific car thief from Salford has been jailed for three years for his involvement in a string of offences.
Craig Shortman, 48, of Orion Place in Broughton, pleaded guilty to four counts of receiving stolen goods, four counts of driving without insurance and four counts of driving while disqualified, during a hearing at Manchester Crown Court.
Shortman stole three vehicles, including a Range Rover and a Jaguar, from Salford addresses last year. The cars have since been returned to their owners.
He was arrested on 6 October 2025 following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) into a man suspected of possessing a firearm, but was released when it was found to be a BB gun.
Having been on the force’s radar, he was recalled to prison when a stolen Range Rover Evoque and a stolen Jaguar F-Pace with fake number plates were discovered at his property on Heath Avenue.
On 7 October, a stolen Citroen Berlingo displaying cloned plates was recovered on Chatford Close.
Shortman denied the offences when interviewed by police, stating he was not the man in a CCTV video, but was charged and remanded in custody.
Detective Constable Lauren Retford, of GMP’s Operation Challenger based in Salford, said: “Shortman demonstrated a disregard for the true owners of the stolen vehicles and took possession of them for his own use.
“He ignored his previous disqualification from driving and lack of insurance to continue using these and other vehicles for his own ends.
“Thankfully, we were able to return all the vehicles to their rightful owners. I am pleased that we have resolved an outcome for the victims concerned.”
DC Retford added: “Programme Challenger is Greater Manchester’s partnership response to tackling serious and organised crime.
“It brings together law enforcement agencies, local authorities, and community partners to address all forms of serious crime – including county lines activity, the exploitation of young people and vulnerable adults, modern slavery, immigration and economic crime, and the criminal use of firearms.”
