'Professional' burglars sentenced to 21 years behind bars

An organised crime gang of burglars have been sentenced to a total of 21 years in prison.

The group targeted homes in the Monmouthshire area, but have also been found guilty of similar offences in Sussex, Croydon and Oxfordshire.

On Tuesday 27th June 2017, the four nominals travelled to South Wales and committed five burglaries in quick succession, targeting large rural addresses in Monmouthshire and Cardiff.

Following information received from members of the public at the scene of the final burglary in the series, the defendants were seen to leave the area in their vehicle, which was subsequently stopped on the M4 near Bristol by Avon and Somerset Police.  On arrival officers discovered and seized the stolen property from the five burglaries mentioned above.

Once in custody, it was quickly established that these males were responsible for a considerable series of burglaries spanning many weeks around the country.

Evidence received from South Wales Police, Metropolitan Police, Thames Valley Police and Sussex Police enabled a further ten burglaries to be detected. All four nominals were subsequently charged with the series of domestic burglaries.

All of the properties targeted had similarities of being large, detached, rural properties with entry gained by smashing a rear patio door/window and completing an untidy search within. Items taken were almost exclusively limited to jewellery, money, passports and electrical items like phones, small laptops etc.

The breakdowns of sentences are as follows:

• 31 year old Irancisco Javier Neira (alias Franciso Javier Montecinos) received 6 years.
• 20 year old Julio Galdamez-Rodriguez (alias Julio Daneil Galames Rodriquez)  received 9 years.
• 35 year old Luis Alberto Villarroel  (alias Luis Alberto Rojas and Luis Alberto Rojas-Villarroel) received 6 years.

A 16 year old was also charged with the offences but there are reporting restrictions currently in place, with his sentence pending.

Detective Constable Simon Reed who led the case for Gwent Police said: 'I would like to reassure our local residents that we are committed to tackling these types of reckless crimes and we will continue to proactively stop criminals who profit from other people's misery. The defendants show no regard for their victims and intended to callously scare and steal from them. The sentencing today shows our relentless efforts to bring justice upon those who commit such serious crimes and the continuous work involved to dismantle organised crime. This investigation has been painstaking and I hope the community will take comfort in these sentences handed out today.'