A gang from Liverpool stole almost £5,000 of high-value items from B&Q in Plymouth then went on to raid the same company in Exeter before getting caught - and carrying on their thefts while on bail.
The well organised crew distracted staff at the tills while the oldest member nonchalantly wheeled out trollies laden with pressure washers, lawnmowers and other expensive goods.
They carried on with exactly the same ploy even though they were caught three times in the space of two days when they travelled to the West Country to carry out the thefts.
Two of the members of the five strong gang are still being hunted by police but the other three have been jailed after admitting their part in the plot.
Louis Ventre, aged 53, of Shaw Lane, Prescott; Peter Atkinson, aged 37, of Rainbow Drive, Halewood; and Terence McMahon, aged 29, of Grant Road, Liverpool, all admitted conspiracy to steal.
McMahon also admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified and with no insurance.
Ventre was jailed for 28 months, Atkinson for 20 and McMahon for a total of 31 months by Mr Justice Popplewell at Exeter Crown Court.
He told them:"You were part of a group of men from Liverpool who travelled the country and targeted B&Q stores where you stole high value items.
"It was a well planned and practiced operation in which one person would distract the person at the tills while another would push goods in a trolley through without paying. Others kept a look out, loaded the goods into the vans or were drivers.
"Some thefts involved the removal of bar codes and hats were worn. The offences took place over a considerable period of time and a wide geographical area.
"The total value of the goods was more than £24,000 and in the midst of this two vehicles were stopped with property stolen from Plymouth and Exeter. The thefts thereafter were while you were all on bail."
Mr Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said the conspiracy started in October 2014 and ran until April 2015 with raids in Huddersfield, Crewe, Gloucester, Exeter, Plymouth, Blackpool, Rochdale (twice), and Stockton.
The total value was £24,197 but all but £5,000 worth was recovered, either when they were stopped on their way back from Devon or when they were intercepted at the checkouts.
He said the most ambitious raids were both carried out the same day at Plymouth, where £4,750 goods were taken and Exeter where £8,787 worth was stolen.
McMahon was later arrested for an unrelated offence of dangerous driving in Liverpool when he crashed into an unmarked police car while riding a scrambler bike the wrong way round a roundabout.
Miss Felicity Payne, for Ventre, said he was drawn into the scheme in October 2014 because he wanted extra money to spend on Christmas presents.
Mr David Woods and Miss Emmi Wilson, for McMahon and Atkinson, said they had played less important roles as lookouts or drivers.
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