Gang of burglars jailed
A GANG of burglars who were caught after they expanded into Crawley have been jailed for a total of more than ten years.
The group broke into at least 19 homes across Kent and Sussex, taking car keys and making off with high-value cars.
But their activities were put to a stop after police responded to a report of people acting suspiciously on Aldingbourne Close, Ifield, early on the morning of November 11 2010.
Police found Arun Biring, 19, of Hardinge Crescent, Woolwich, in the back of a Ford Fiesta van and arrested him. He was later sentenced to 20 months in a young offender’s institute.
Darren Nicholson, 18, of Galleons View Road, Thamesmead, was arrested later the same day in Kent after he was stopped in a stolen BMW. He also received 20 months youth detention.
Ringleader Zammo Wright, 36, of Little Queen Street, Dartford, was arrested on November 24 2010 and later sentenced to four-and-half years.
Grant Carter, 31, of Voce Road, Plumstead, was subsequently arrested for handling stolen goods, and jailed for two-and-half years.
All were sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on January 27 2012.
Wright, Nicholson and Carter admitted to conspiracy to burgle and Biring admitted conspiracy to handle stolen goods, at a previous hearing on December 12 2011.
Judge Michale Carroll QC, sentencing, said: “The public are outraged by people in a group coming to burgle whilst they are asleep in bed. Your offending showed a significant degree of planning and organisation.”
The court heard that the group targeted high-value cars made by BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar and Audi. In total 18 vehicles were stolen but only six of them were recovered.
Detective Inspector Kevin Downard, of Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “Burglaries are particularly upsetting crimes which often have a significant impact on the victims.
“These defendants were breaking into peoples’ homes at night with the single aim of stealing high value cars parked outside for criminal gain.
“Today’s sentencing reflects how seriously we take such criminal behaviour and how committed the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate is in tackling organised criminality which harms our communities.”
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Weather for Crawley
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
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