Two men have appeared before the courts and received suspended prison sentences following a police investigation into a series of burglaries in Highworth.
Joseph Conway, 30, of Kilshane in Dublin, and Michael Kavanagh, 27, of Wilbury Way in Edmonton, both admitted burglary offences when they appeared at Swindon Crown Court on Friday, 12 December. Each was handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
The offences took place on the afternoon of 24 September, when police were first alerted by a distressed resident who called 999 after discovering an intruder inside his Highworth home. The victim, who was alone at the time, barricaded himself inside a bedroom while waiting for officers to arrive.
Later that same day, police received reports of two further burglaries at separate addresses in the town. In both cases, the properties had been searched through and jewellery stolen.
Officers quickly launched enquiries and identified a vehicle believed to be linked to the incidents. That evening, police attempted to stop the vehicle in the Lechlade Road area, prompting the occupants to abandon it and flee on foot. With assistance from the police drone unit, officers tracked both men as they ran along nearby railway lines close to the A420, where they were detained and arrested.
A search of the vehicle uncovered items of jewellery concealed in several hidden compartments, some of which were later linked to the burglaries.
PC Charlie Forster, from Wiltshire Police’s Burglary Team, praised the victims for their resolve in difficult circumstances.
“Being the victim of a burglary can have a lasting impact,” he said. “In one case, the homeowner was present during the break-in and was understandably left very shaken. In the other incidents, residents returned home to find their properties ransacked and cherished items taken.
“Thanks to the courage and cooperation shown by the victims, we were able to arrest the suspects quickly, gather strong evidence and recover some of the stolen jewellery.”
PC Forster added that burglary remains a priority for the force.
“We want residents to know that we take these crimes extremely seriously and will work tirelessly to identify those responsible and bring them before the courts.”
