Teen Burglar Trio Nabbed for High-Octane Crime Spree Across Portsmouth and Fareham
Luke MacDonald Sentenced to Four-and-a-Half Years
Luke MacDonald, 19, of Surrey, has been jailed for four years and six months for a series of brazen burglaries and attempted robberies in Portsmouth, Fareham, and Waterlooville. MacDonald faced charges over eight break-ins and two attempted robberies.
Accomplices Also Face Prison
MacDonald’s two co-defendants, Harlie Frampton, 19, from Cosham, and Rhys Conner, 19, from Portsmouth, were also locked up—receiving three years and four months, and three years and ten months respectively for conspiracy to burgle.
The Crime Spree: Car Keys, Cars and Stolen Goods
- February 2019: Burglars hit a Portsmouth home, sweeping up electricals, a wallet, handbag, and crucially, two sets of car keys. Two cars were joyridden shortly after.
- April 2019: Another Portsmouth property targeted; thieves swiped keys and then made off with two vehicles.
- August to September 2019: A spree of break-ins across Portsmouth, Fareham and Waterlooville saw car keys stolen from multiple homes and at least five cars driven off.
- September 2020: MacDonald tried to break into a Campbell Road home but was thwarted.
Violent Attempted Robbery Adds to Sentence
On 26 August 2020, MacDonald viciously attacked a cyclist in his 40s, causing injuries serious enough to require hospital treatment before attempting to steal the victim’s bike. This violent attempted robbery resulted in additional charges and sentencing.
Police Praise Team Effort in Bringing Crooks to Justice
DS Deborah Mason from the Operation Hawk team said: “We’re pleased this prolific burglar and his accomplices are now behind bars. Residential burglaries are despicable and cause huge distress to victims. This sentence should reassure the community that we take these crimes seriously and will pursue justice relentlessly.”
