In early June, intelligence concerning a dark-coloured Audi A3 had been circulated between southern police forces. It was believed that the car had been involved in a string of burglaries across the region, including several offences in Surrey.

On June 7 Surrey police officers received a call reporting a burglary at an address in Collingwood Crescent, off Boxgrove Road, Guildford. While travelling to the address of the burglary, officers identified a vehicle matching the Audi’s description.  A car chase ensued culminating in the Audi leaving the road and crashing on Smarts Heath Road in Woking.

Daniel Carthy, 24, of Green Lane in Redhill and James O’Reilly, 35, of no fixed address were arrested at the scene on suspicion of conspiracy to commit residential burglary.

Items found in the vehicle were linked to two burglaries in Surrey. Enquiries were made with neighbouring forces in Thames Valley and Hampshire, and as a result, the men were charged with a conspiracy to commit residential burglary, comprising of offences in West Surrey, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire between 8 April and 7 June 2018.

Appearing at a plea hearing on Thursday, July 12 the two pleaded not guilty to the charges and were remanded awaiting trial.

On Monday they appeared at Guildford Crown Court where O’Reilly pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary and Carthy to eight counts. The result the charge of conspiracy to burgle was allowed to lie on file.

Both men were sentenced by Judge Fraser on Tuesday. O’Reilly was sentenced to five years imprisonment and Carthy sentenced to a total of eight.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Pete Osborn of Surrey Police CID, said: “Daniel Carthy and James O’Reilly put the lives of officers and members of the public at risk while attempting to flee from police. We hope the sentencing today brings reassurance to those burgled by Carthy and O’Reilly, and that their sentences act as a deterrent to others.

“In court, the pair claimed they were remorseful in order to try to mitigate the sentences but fortunately, the judge saw through their claims. The judge deemed one Surrey offence so serious that he gave a five-year sentence for that occurrence alone, as it involved the pair locking a woman and a young child in the kitchen while they ransacked the property, leaving them extremely shaken.

“The men were initially linked to a number of offences by two vehicles; a black Audi S4 and a dark green Audi A3, which were displaying false registration plates. Number plate recognition cameras were instrumental in providing evidence of the vehicles’ movements between Buckinghamshire and Surrey, and by tracking the false registration plates and obtaining CCTV from a variety of locations we were able to link Carthy and O’Reilly to the offences.”

Surrey Police are reminding residents that to prevent burglaries they should ensure doors and windows are secured and valuables are kept out of sight and registered.