'Relentless' gang jailed over string of burglaries

Six men have been jailed after admitting their involvement in a string of burglaries across the south-east of England.

Surrey Police said the gang targeted 53 properties in the Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, London, Hertfordshire and Essex policing areas between November 2024 and March 2025.

They received custodial sentences at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday after each pleading guilty to multiple offences.

"This was burglary on an industrial scale – organised criminality targeting ordinary homes and relentless in their offending," Det Ch Insp Antony Leadbeatter said.

He said: "Our message to burglars is clear. Target Surrey and we will target you."

According to Surrey Police, the gang was caught "red-handed in a stolen vehicle with stolen property" in March after a surveillance operation by the county's Serious Organised Crime Unit using CCTV, ANPR (automatic number plate recognition), and drones.

The burglars were using stolen cars on cloned plates, leaving their phones behind or switched off, and trying to remove forensic evidence with cleaning spray in attempts to avoid detection, detectives said.

According to Surrey Police:

• Lawrence Connors, 32, from Hayes in west London, received a prison sentence of 11 years and 10 months after he pleaded guilty to 11 offences of conspiracy to commit burglary and breaching his criminal behaviour order.

• George Price, 34, from St Helen's, admitted 21 offences of conspiracy to commit burglary and was jailed for 10 years and two months.

• Felix McCann, 33, from Wembley in north-west London, pleaded guilty to 16 conspiracy to commit burglary offences and was handed a 10 year and 10 month sentence.

• Thirty-four-year-old Michael Purcell, from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, received the same length prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to 10 offences of conspiracy to commit burglary.

• Patrick Nolan, from London, was also sentenced to 10 years and 10 months after the 35-year-old admitted to 19 counts of conspiracy to commit burglary.

• Miles Doran, from Pinner in north-west London, pleaded guilty to one offence of burglary and one of attempted burglary. The 36-year-old was given a two year, eight month sentence.

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