A FAMILY of thieves thought to have carried out more than 600 raids on cars parked in beauty spots across the south have been jailed for a total of seven years.

The prolific gang of two brothers, two sisters and one other targeted remote spots in Lymington in the New Forest and West Tytherely near Winchester.

Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday heard how the crime spree began in January 2001.

They stole tens of thousands of pounds worth of goods from cars over a two-year period.

Brothers David and Gary Wells, Victoria and Valerie Cooper and Michael Stafford were caught after a massive operation involving six police forces.

The gang also struck at locations in Surrey, Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon.

On some occasions they posed as birdwatchers so as not to arouse suspicion. After watching their victims leave their vehicles they would then smash the windows and grab what they could from the cars.

The three were eventually arrested in January this year. The most prolific offender, David Wells, 27, from Salisbury, was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Victoria Cooper, 31, also from Salisbury, and Michael Stafford, 32, from Ferndown, Dorset, were both given 15 months in prison.

Gary Wells, 22, and Valerie Cooper, 42, also from Salisbury, walked free from court with community punishment orders.

They pleaded guilty to 33 theft offences but police said this was the "tip of the iceberg" and they believe the gang was responsible for hundreds of other crimes.