Raid gang jailed after major police hunt
They struck at more than a dozen homes, stealing thousands of pounds worth of Volvo cars, tools and jewellery, leading to a police hunt so big that five forces were involved.
But now eight members of the gang behind the raids across the West Midlands, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire are behind bars.
Mr Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court that the gang was the subject of a large scale police investigation involving five separate forces – West Midlands, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
They targeted large properties during the day hoping they were empty, but in one raid threatened a man with a scaffolding pole when confronted.
Offences took place between October 10 and October 18, 2012. The court heard that a Volvo was stolen from a property in Leicester on October 10 and the following day the same car, fitted with false plates, was used in a burglary in Coalway Gardens, Wolverhampton.
Later that day they targeted a home on Union Lane in Trysull, where they stole three sets of car keys and attempted to steal a car.
On October 17 the gang burgled a house in Nottingham where they stole part of a special constable's uniform and his warrant card. On October 18 the gang targeted five separate properties, and used the uniform as a disguise.
A house in Malborough Gardens, Tettenhall, was among those targeted along with one in Woodfield Heights, in Tettenhall, and Clark Road, Compton.
Mr Aspden said by this point the police had been alerted to some of the early burglaries and were on the lookout for the Volvo. An officer spotted the car but the gang noticed and dumped the car on D'Eyncourt Road, Wednesfield and a number of the gang members were arrested.
He added: "This was a premeditated and persistent campaign of dwelling house burglary by offenders acting together as a gang. It was only brought to an end by their arrest."
Mr Lugard Hurlock, defending, told the court in mitigation that all the offenders are very young.
He said: "Great remorse has been shown in relation to this offending, and there has been empathy towards the victims."
Judge Martin Walsh said: "It cannot be underestimated the impact these burglaries have on their victims."
"There was a significant amount stolen, particularly jewellery, and other items of sentimental value, which have not been recovered."
The gang included: Michael Cash, of Woodside Park, Coventry, aged 22, jailed for 68 months after admitting three counts of conspiracy to burgle; William Patrick Connors, 19, of Deptford Crescent, Nottingham, jailed for 54 months after admitting three counts of conspiracy to burgle; unnamed youth given 12-month detention and training; James Connors, 19, of Deptford Crescent, Nottingham, jailed for 52 months after admitting two counts of conspiracy to burgle; Patrick Boswell, 21 of Pringle Street Rochdale, jailed for four years for admitting one count of conspiracy to burgle; Gerry Connors, 19, of Woodside Park, Coventry, jailed for five years for admitting one count of conspiracy to burgle and one of aggravated burglary and convicted of a third count of conspiracy to burgle; Jason Bridges, 19, of Woodside Park, Coventry, jailed for 52 months for admitting one conspiracy to burgle. The case against William Connors junior, Station Approach, Banbury, 18, who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to burgle had sentencing adjourned until February 17 for psychiatric reports.
