Six members of the same family have been jailed today for their involvement in the theft of more than 150 catalytic converters from cars in Brent and across London.

The McDonagh family - Gerard, 31, Martin, 37, Joseph, 31 John, 32, all from Edmonton, Michael, 31, from Wood Green, and Kevin, 19, from Enfield, were snared after detectives at Brent Police launched in an investigation following a catalogue of thefts in the borough.

In August, they all admitted being part of a sophisticated crime syndicate who struck across the city.

Today at Harrow Crown Court, Gerard, Michael and Martin, were sentenced to three years, Joseph two years and Kevin a year after they pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal catalytic converters from motor vehicles.

John was jailed for 15 months after admitting four counts of theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles.

Once they are released from jail they will all be subjected to a five year post-conviction Asbo banning them from touching an unattended motor vehicle without the owner’s consent and not to own, possess, use or control cutting equipment capable of cutting metal of a thickness greater than two millimetres.

It is believed the converters, which stop harmful exhaust gasses being emitted by cars, were stolen as they contain precious metals such as platinum and palladium

Since they were arrested the number of catalytic converters thefts across London half halved.

Chief Superintendent Michael Gallagher, Brent Borough commander, said: “This is a fantastic result for the victims of these crimes.

“These convictions should serve as a warning to those engaged in criminal activity that we won’t stop until they are convicted.”