Two men sentenced following three burglaries in Highworth
Jewellery was recovered from hidden areas in their vehicle
Two men have been sentenced for their involvement in three burglaries in the Highworth area.
Joseph Conway, a 30-year-old from Kilshane, Dublin, and Michael Kavanagh, a 27-year-old from Wilbury Way, Edmonton, both pleaded guilty to burglary at Swindon Crown Court on 15th December 2023.
They were each sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for two years.
The burglaries took place on 24th September 2023.
Police were first called to a home in Highworth that afternoon after a resident reported a man had broken into his property. The victim, who was home at the time, barricaded himself in his bedroom to contact emergency services.
Later the same day, officers were alerted to two further burglaries at separate addresses in the area. Both homes were ransacked, and jewellery was stolen.
Police identified a vehicle suspected to be used by the offenders and later pursued it in the Lechlade Road area. The suspects abandoned the car, but Wiltshire Police drone units helped locate Conway and Kavanagh running along railway tracks near the A420. They were detained and arrested.
Officers found items of jewellery hidden in various areas of the vehicle.
PC Charlie Forster, from the force’s burglary team, said: “I'd like to pay tribute to the victims of this case. Having your home broken into is one of the worst things that can happen and can have a long-lasting impact. During one of these incidents, the victim was home at the time and was left understandably very shaken up. During the other two incidents, victims returned home to find their homes turned upside down and precious belongings stolen.
“Despite their ordeal, due to the support and courage shown by these victims, we were able to apprehend the two suspects quickly. This enabled us to put a strong case to the court with strong evidence linking the males to all three burglaries and recovering some of the stolen jewellery.
“I’d like residents to be reassured that we take reports of burglary extremely seriously here at Wiltshire Police and will leave no stone unturned in identifying offenders and putting them before the courts.”