A BURGLARY gang which plundered more than 50 homes to steal around £300,000 of jewellery and cash have been jailed.
Jason MacDonaugh, Darren O’Halloran, Barney Casey and Daniel Harty targeted homes across Solihull, Birmingham, Sandwell and Walsall between November last year and January.
The masked gang would target addresses and force their way inside.
On most occasions they would target properties when no-one was present, but there were times when victims were confronted with thieves in their homes.
Police identified two vehicles – firstly an Audi RS3 and then a VW Golf – which were on false plates and used to flee the scenes.
West Midlands Police said they identified Jason MacDonaugh as the buyer and seller of the Audi .
And then officers connected his associates to the crimes which also saw them strike near Bristol and Warwickshire.
MacDonaugh, aged 32, Darren O’Halloran, 38, and Barney Casey, 22, were tracked to Yorkshire where they were arrested in early February.
Following further enquiries Daniel Harty, 32, was detained in Wales later in the month.
The four, of no fixed address but originally from Ireland, were convicted of conspiracy to burgle following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
They were to almost 50 years imprisonment.
MacDonaugh was jailed for 13 years and six months.
O’Halloran was jailed for 12 years.
Harty was jailed for 12 years.
Casey was jailed for 10 years and six months.
Sergeant James Birtles, from the investigation team which led the enquiries, said: “Their crime spree saw them target more than 50 homes across the West Midlands in just a few months.
“But following extensive enquiries, including working with the An Garda Síochána and other police forces, we managed to identify and link them to the series of break-ins.
“We fully understand the devastating impact burglary can have on those affected whether in their home or business environment and we’ll always look to identify and prosecute offenders.”
