Kent Police team jails thieves for more than 22 years

Thieving medical staff and a serial burglar were among those locked up for a combined total of more than 22 years in the first month of the year, thanks to the work of a single Kent Police team.

The Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, which is based across the county, also made 27 arrests in January 2022, and received authority to issue 37 charges.

Among those jailed were health care workers who stole medication from terminally ill patients.

The two women, who were each sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to burgle, targeted at least 25 homes between December 2020 and August 2021.

On some occassions, they dressed as nurses to gain a victim’s trust, before stealing end-of-life care packages which included morphine and other pain killers. Homes were targeted across Thanet, Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and Faversham.

Their offending was unravelled by Crime Squad detectives who, through a careful review of CCTV and mobile phone records, were able to place the women at the scene of the crimes.

Also jailed last month was a serial burglar who targeted 17 homes in Gillingham, Rochester, Higham, Gravesend and Shorne between October 2019 and February 2020.

He gained entry to 10 of these properties and stole high value items which included sports cars manufactured by Porsche, Audi and Jaguar, and a luxury Rolex watch.

A painstaking review of evidence collated over the course of the offending led to the Crime Squad obtaining a warrant and proactively targeting the offender at an address linked to him.

The sentence imposed on him spans a total of nine years and two months’ imprisonment.

Also jailed was a man who was involved in an incident of violent disorder which took place in a Gillingham pub.

During the incident, which involved a group of people who are known to each other, he bit a man’s nose and upper lip – causing the victim to sustain heavy bleeding. He will serve 15 months for the offence.

Although these cases have concluded, new investigations by the team have led to several suspects, suspected of serious crime, being remanded in custody ahead of future court hearings.

Among them are four men who have each been charged for their roles in a series of commercial burglaries committed in Gillingham, Gravesend, Maidstone and Sussex.

A large quantity of cigarettes was stolen during the offending and, between them, 16 charges were authorised against the men.

Two men have also been charged for their alleged roles in a ram raid style burglary which saw a moped used to force entry to a commercial building in Dartford.

Hair care products worth around £3,000 are said to have been stolen.

The remand of a 17-year-old boy who is said to have robbed a person of an e-scooter and a jacket, after threatening them with a knife in Canterbury, was also secured.

Robust action

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Talboys, who leads the team, said: ‘We have started 2022 in the same way we have been operating since our launch three years ago – proactively targeting high harm criminals and ensuring robust sentences are imposed on them.

‘We never want to see anyone impacted by crime but, should the worst happen, you can see that we are achieving robust results against people who are causing significant harm.

‘These results are being achieved across the county, which truly demonstrates we are a team that is committed to serving every neighbourhood – no mater how big or small.

‘There’s going to be no let-up in our efforts to target people responsible for such offending, and we’re always going to use the full remit of our powers to secure justice for victims.’