AI Generated Summary
- “As a result of the work conducted by specialist officers, a handful of serial criminals will now spend a substantial amount of time behind bars.
- As part of the investigation, police executed a search warrant at a Hatton Garden jewellery shop suspected of fencing the stolen goods.
- I hope these men spend a lot of time reflecting on the impact their actions have had on the community.
Four members of a sophisticated burglary ring that stole over £1 million worth of jewellery, largely from London’s Indian and South Asian communities, have been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison.
The group — Jerry O’Donnell, 33; Barney Maloney, 23; Quey Adger, 23; and Patrick Ward, 43 — were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to a series of burglaries spanning London and the surrounding counties.
Their crimes, which took place between December 2023 and July 2024, targeted properties in south London, including Croydon, Sutton and Wandsworth, as well as areas in Surrey, Sussex and Essex.
“This comprehensive operation enabled us to disrupt a key part of an organised crime network,” said Detective Sergeant Lee Davison of the Metropolitan Police, who led the investigation. “As a result of the work conducted by specialist officers, a handful of serial criminals will now spend a substantial amount of time behind bars.”
He added that while the financial loss was substantial, the emotional and cultural value of the stolen items was even more significant: “Its sentimental worth is priceless. I hope these men spend a lot of time reflecting on the impact their actions have had on the community.”
Caught in the Act
Three of the men — O’Donnell, Maloney and Adger — were apprehended in July 2024 as part of a year-long intelligence-led operation. Officers intercepted their vehicle after CCTV linked it to several burglaries. Upon stopping the car, police found hundreds of items of stolen jewellery, including a gold wedding ring, necklaces, and a solid gold hairpin.
Ward was arrested separately at his home shortly after, having been identified as a key associate of the trio.
O’Donnell, Maloney and Adger received sentences of over five years each. Ward was jailed for two years and five months.
Jewellery Melted Down
As part of the investigation, police executed a search warrant at a Hatton Garden jewellery shop suspected of fencing the stolen goods. Officers recovered £50,000 in cash and eight kilograms of jewellery, some of which had already been melted down for resale.
Among the items recovered were a World War One officer’s Rolex, a gold locket containing vintage photographs, an engraved ring, and a gold pocket watch from Harlow Bros Ltd.
Following a public appeal earlier this year, several items were successfully returned to their owners. However, detectives are still working to trace the owners of many remaining pieces and are urging potential victims to come forward.
“This case sends a clear message to organised crime groups: if you target communities, we will find you, and we will bring you to justice,” said DS Davison.
The Metropolitan Police continues to appeal for anyone who believes they may have been a victim of these burglaries to contact them with information.
