A prolific burglar who targeted affluent areas across the country and "taunted and evaded" police has finally been put behind bars.
Daniel Casey, 31, was finally caught after officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) teamed up with Cleveland Police to run an investigation into a spree of burglaries. The probe was launched after officers were made aware of suspicious activity taking place in the Cleveland area in January 2020.
Casey was identified as playing a key role in the offending and had travelled to the North East from the Leicestershire area. Along with associates, he used force to gain entry to properties and once inside ransacked every room – stealing several items, including family jewellery which had been passed down through the generations before he fled the scene.
On occasions where occupants were home, the group would use violence with the same tactics being used across the country, with affluent homes being targeted. An operation was launched and with the support of partners, NEROCU officers were able to carry out a complex and protracted investigation to identify and track down those responsible.
Casey, of Meynells Gorse, Leicester, was arrested and subsequently convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary and handling stolen goods. This week he appeared at Newcastle's Moot Hall and was sentenced to 20 months in prison for the conspiracy charge, which will run consecutive to a sentence of six years and nine months which he is already serving for similar offences in a different part of the country. He also received an additional six-month imprisonment to run concurrent for the charge of handling stolen goods.
Following sentencing, NEROCU Detective Constable Mark Armstrong, said: “Casey had taunted and evaded police for over a year until his luck finally ran out. Casey and his associates were not deterred by any CCTV or home alarm systems or the possibility of being identified, as he thought not being from the area made him invincible – he couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Sadly, the victims in this case suffered significant loss totalling over £125,000 in cash and sentimental family jewellery which can never be replaced. I want to reassure communities that NEROCU, along with our partners, will continue to robustly target organised crime members who are willing to travel to the North East and cause unnecessary suffering to victims of this abhorrent crime type.”
The judge in the case commended the work of the officers involved in the police investigation, saying: “Police should be commended for their work in this case. The investigation was very protracted. It required careful and patient analysis. The citizens of Cleveland can be very proud of the officers involved.”
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