Lockdown Burglar Gang Nabbed After £300k Cigarette Heist Spree
Three crooks went on a crime spree during the COVID-19 lockdown, hitting stores across Northamptonshire for 45 burglaries in just three months. Matthew Lawrence Brown, 30, and his mates Terrance Brown and Otis Barrett, both 26, stole almost £300,000 worth of cigarettes to flog for profit.
£120k Damage and Busted Red-Handed
The gang left chaos in their wake, causing around £120,000 damage to retail premises. Their run ended in May 2020 when police caught them in the act and arrested the trio.
They were part of a slick operation involving up to five members, who used WhatsApp and Snapchat to plan carefully. They even scouted targets in person before striking.
Lockdown Limits Turned Local, But Gang Stayed Bold
With lockdown travel limits, the gang stuck close to Northampton. On one cheeky heist, police recovered stolen cigarettes only for the thieves to trace them to a civilian warehouse and snatch them back within 24 hours — threatening a security staff member to pull off the daring raid.
Harsh Sentences Upped on Appeal
Originally sentenced in September at Northampton Crown Court, Matthew and Terrance Brown got six years, while Otis Barrett received six years and four months. However, the Attorney General flagged the penalties as too soft under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
On 17 December, the Court of Appeal stepped in and cranked up their jail time:
- Matthew Brown: 9 years
- Terrance Brown: 9 years
- Otis Barrett: 9 years and 4 months
Attorney General Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP said: “This audacious gang is responsible for hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage and stolen goods. I welcome the Court’s judgment as it reflects the severity of their crimes.”
