Ruthless distraction burglars jailed

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having committed crimes in Putney and around the country ..�.

Four men all from North London who posed as police officers to steal from the vulnerable and elderly have been jailed following a joint operation between the Met, Derbyshire Constabulary and a number of other police forces.

The men travelled the country and tricked their way into the homes of predominantly elderly women and stole life savings, jewellery and treasured belongings. Some victims even lost money they had set aside for their own funerals.

Upon identifying a suitable address the suspects knocked at the door and told their victims that they were plain-clothed police officers. They presented their own homemade warrant cards and claimed to have just arrested someone and recovered a large sum of cash or jewellery.

Once winning the trust of the victim they were allowed in. They then asked the victim to check if they had anything missing. As the victim checked, one of the gang would follow.
After seeing their belongings intact, the victim would be distracted whilst another gang member would steal them.

The gang committed the offences at various addresses in Putney and across London, Derbyshire and Cheshire between January and May 2005. The money made enabled them to live a luxurious life-style and drive around in brand new cars.

As more and more offences were committed across the country a pattern was detected by Operation Liberal - the national distraction burglary co-ordination centre at Derbyshire Constabulary police HQ.

A joint operation was launched and in May 2005 enquiries led the team to a motor home in Derbyshire where the four men were arrested. Over the course of the next few days the men were interviewed in connection with a number of offences and later charged.

DI Nev Nolan (Senior Investigating Officer) from the Met's Territorial Policing Crime Squad said: "These ruthless men targeted some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Posing as police officers they tricked their way into the homes of the elderly where they stole, on some occasions, their entire life savings - even money set aside for their own funerals.

"They posed as police officers to gain entry to the place where people feel most safe - their own home. They even went so far as forging police warrant cards to facilitate their criminality. This shows the level of premeditation and planning that went into this abhorrent venture, which enabled these people to buy new cars and live a very comfortable life-style.

"I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the elderly that this type of crime is rare. However there are a few simple steps that can prevent bogus callers from getting in your house."

"This investigation is an excellent example of co-operation between a number of different police forces and its sends a strong message to those involved in such behaviour that they will be pursued relentlessly until they are brought to justice."

On 15th September 2005 the defendants appeared at Derby Crown Court and pleaded guilty to a total of 39 offences of burglary. On Tuesday 20th December they were sentenced at Derby Crown Court.

The defendants were:-

William CAWLEY (Junior), 22 yrs, unemployed of 23b Park Road, NW10. He pleaded guilty to 18 offences and was jailed for five years.

William CAWLEY (Senior) 42 yrs unemployed of 23b Park Road, NW10. He pleaded guilty to 14 offences and was jailed for four and half years.

Luke Christopher WALL, 25 yrs unemployed of 23b Park Road, NW10. He pleaded guilty to 6 offences and was jailed for five years.

Michael Patrick MALONEY 28 yrs unemployed of 23b Park Road, NW10. He pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was jailed (Maloney was sentenced previously - we await details of date and length of sentence).

December 20, 2005