TWO prolific burglars have been jailed for a combined 13 years after a spree of break-ins across southern counties, including targeting a house on White House Walk, Farnham, on June 1.

In early June, southern police forces were warned to be on the lookout for a dark Audi A3 linked to a string of burglaries across the region, including several offences in Surrey.

On June 7, officers responded to reports of a burglary on Collingswood Crescent, Guildford, and on their way there spotted a vehicle matching the Audi’s description.

A high-speed, five-mile car chase ensued through the narrow lanes between Guildford and Woking, before the Audi left the road and crashed on Smarts Heath Road, Woking.

Daniel Carthy, 24, of Green Lane, 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 getaway car 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 a spate of residential burglaries in West Surrey, Hampshire and Buckinghamshire between April 8 and June 7, 2018.

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

But on Monday, October 8, they appeared at Guildford Crown Court where O’Reilly admitted three counts, and Carthy eight counts of burglary.

As a result of those guilty pleas the charge of conspiracy to burgle was allowed to lie on file.

Both men were sentenced by Judge Fraser on Tuesday, October 9 with O’Reilly sentenced to five years and Carthy to a total of eight years imprisonment.

Investigating officer DC 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.”

* Officers are reminding residents to ensure doors and windows are secured and valuables are kept out of sight and registered for free at at immobilise.com after four recent reports of burglary in the Farnham area where jewellery, cash and a lap top have been taken.

The targeted properties were on Tilford Road, Alma Lane, Ball and Wicket Lane and St Georges Road between Wednesday, October 10, and Friday, October 12.

For more crime prevention tips and information, visit surrey.police.uk/keeping-safe.