Burglars Busted After High-Speed Chase and Drone Hunt
Kyle Ainsley was caught red-handed after a daring police chase across Kent. The 24-year-old was found hiding in a tree in a field near Eynsford, following a string of break-ins in the Sevenoaks area.
Masked Thieves Smash Three Homes, Flee with £Thousands in Jewellery
On 28 September 2023, Kent Police were alerted to a spree of burglaries. Ainsley and his accomplice Lewis Thomas, both wearing balaclavas, broke into three houses, stealing thousands of pounds worth of jewellery. They made their escape in stolen cars, including a Mercedes and a BMW.
High-Speed BMW Chase Ends with Drone Spotting and Canine Assist
- Officers found the Mercedes abandoned on Shoreham Road.
- A BMW, stolen from the same street, sped past with the suspects’ faces hidden.
- Kent Police pursued the BMW using a patrol car and a drone to track the suspects’ movements.
- The suspects ditched the stolen car near Priory Lane, Eynsford, and ran into a nearby field.
- Police Dog Biggy helped locate Thomas, who was caught dumping a balaclava and gloves.
- Biggy then signaled to a tree where Ainsley was hiding among the branches, leading to his arrest.
Repeat Offenders Jailed After Pleading Guilty
Ainsley, from Ilford, and Thomas, from Dagenham, were charged with three burglaries and vehicle theft. Both pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court on 30 October. Each was handed a hefty sentence of four years and one month behind bars.
DC Josh Littley of the Kent Crime Squad said: “Ainsley and Thomas are prolific and repeat offenders, who came to Sevenoaks with the sole intention of committing as many burglaries as possible in just a few hours. We remain determined to stop burglary crime and hope this case shows how quickly we can track and arrest offenders using all our resources.”
