Deportee nabbed in $40M car heist - DNA from a drink bottle links suspect to grand theft

Investigators used an unfinished bottle of drinks to tie a deportee to a crime scene two years ago. The findings of a DNA analysis were shared by Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell on Monday, following the appearance of the accused Ricardo Sudlow.

He is before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court for allegedly stealing five high-end motor vehicles valued at $40 million in one night. He is faced with five counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit office breaking and larceny, office breaking and larceny, false declaration and receiving stolen property. He has not yet entered a plea, even though surveillance footage which was shared in court, which appear to show him committing the offences.

It is alleged that on March 16, 2022, between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., Sudlow forced open the windows of the offices of a car dealership located on Haining Road in St Andrew, and stole three Dell desktop computers valued at $347,000, as well as three 45-inch display screens with mouse and keyboard sets valued at $231,000. Further allegations state that Sudlow reportedly took the keys to five high-end vehicles, a 2015 BMW convertible coupe, a 2014 BMW X6, a 2019 Range Rover Vogue, a 2017 Mercedes-Benz C300 and a 2016 BMW 520i, all of which were parked at the premises. Four of the five vehicles were subsequently recovered.

"I've been in custody for two years and eight months and I've been trying to go to a trial. How could I steal five cars in one night? What you think I should do Your Honour?" Sudlow asked the senior judge.

"You need to speak to a lawyer, not me," Burrell responded. Sudlow was remanded in custody until November 7, when the matter is set for mention.