Met’s Flying Squad Nab Burglary Gang Targeting Elderly Across London
Detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad teamed up with officers from North West and West Area units to launch Operation Bayview after a spike in residential burglaries preying on the elderly and vulnerable.
Three Men Caught and Sentenced for £200k Burglary Spree
All three crooks pled guilty at court on 28 January and received their sentences on 21 March. The trio’s rampage spanned London, Hampshire, Surrey, and Buckinghamshire between 26 June and 1 July 2021.
- Lawrence Connors, 29, of High Wycombe, got 6 years and 5 months for conspiracy to commit burglary. He admitted being involved in six break-ins.
- Michael Doran, 23, from Northolt, was jailed for 5 years and 8 months, linked to four burglaries.
- James O’Leary, 19, of Harrow, received 2 years and 8 months plus a driving ban after admitting to burglary and conspiracy, tied to four offences.
£30k Worth of Stolen Goods Still Missing; High-Value Items Recovered
The gang made off with an estimated £200,000 worth of loot, including jewellery and other valuables. Police recovered items worth up to £100,000, including a stolen luxury car, but £30,000 remains missing along with sentimental keepsakes.
Police Smash Sophisticated Burglary Ring Using CCTV and ANPR
Met detectives pieced together the gang’s trail through hours of CCTV footage and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) data, sharing intel with neighbouring forces. Their clues included stolen jewellery descriptions and getaway vehicles.
The criminals were finally spotted leaving a High Wycombe address where a burglary had just taken place. Despite a desperate attempt to flee, officers from the Met and Surrey Police caught and arrested them.
Detective Superintendent Figo Forouzan said: “They thought they were too clever to catch, but the police proved them wrong.
“They targeted vulnerable victims, ransacked homes under cover of darkness, and stole not just cash but irreplaceable sentimental items that may never be recovered.”
