Six Burglars Jailed for Over 54 Years After Major Crime Spree Across South East England
Spate of Burglaries Rocks Surrey and Surrounding Counties
Six career criminals have been locked up for a combined 54 years after a massive burglary spree targeting 53 homes across Surrey, Sussex, London, Thames Valley, Hertfordshire, and Essex.
Between November 2024 and March 2025, the gang hit dozens of properties, with Surrey towns such as Windlesham, Weybridge, Epsom, Egham, and Staines among their key targets.
High-Tech Burglar Gang Foiled by Police
- The ruthless gang used stolen cars with cloned number plates to evade detection.
- They left mobile phones behind or kept them switched off to avoid tracking.
- Crime scenes were meticulously cleaned to destroy forensic evidence.
But Surrey Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit stayed one step ahead, deploying CCTV, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), and drones to monitor and catch the crooks.
Profitless Crime Spree Ends in Court
In March, police swooped when the gang were caught red-handed in a stolen vehicle packed with pilfered goods.
At Kingston Crown Court on 17 December, all six pleaded guilty and received hefty sentences:
- Felix McCann, 33, Wembley: 10 years 10 months for 16 burglary conspiracies
- Michael Purcell, 34, Aylesbury: 8 years for 10 offences
- Patrick Nolan, 35, London: 10 years 10 months for 19 offences
- George Price, 34, St Helens: 10 years 2 months for 21 offences
- Lawrence Connors, 32, Hayes: 11 years 10 months for 11 offences plus breaching a criminal behaviour order
- Miles Doran, 36, Pinner: 2 years 8 months for one burglary and one attempted burglary
“These were organised criminals relentlessly targeting ordinary homes,” said Detective Chief Inspector Antony Leadbeatter. “This was burglary on an industrial scale. Our message is clear – if you target Surrey, we will target you.”
The operation shows police mean business. With tech-savvy tactics and relentless determination, crime simply doesn’t pay in Surrey.
