STOLEN PUPPIES AND BURGLAR GANG BUSTED IN EAST OF ENGLAND BY POLICE

A notorious gang of travelers operating across the East of England has been dismantled following an extensive police investigation that uncovered their involvement in over 200 burglaries within an 11-month period. The criminal activities spanned multiple counties, causing widespread distress among local communities and highlighting the severity of their organized crime operations.

Members of this violent and highly organized gang would often mask their faces with balaclavas, making their identification difficult during daylight hours. They employed aggressive tactics such as smashing doors or forcing open windows to gain entry into homes and businesses. Their methods were calculated and bold, often carried out in broad daylight to avoid suspicion. To evade law enforcement, they would don forensic suits, attempting to outsmart police detection efforts. Their prolific nature was evident in their staggering crime rate, which saw them committing seven burglaries in a single day in July 2017, followed by eight the next day, and a total of 50 burglaries throughout that month alone.

One particularly disturbing discovery was made on a travelers' site in Cambridgeshire, where police uncovered seven stolen Labrador puppies hidden in the boot of a car. Alongside the puppies, authorities found an arsenal of deadly weapons, underscoring the dangerous and violent tendencies of the gang members involved. This find was part of a broader crackdown that led to multiple arrests and convictions.

Nine individuals associated with the gang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. Their sentences ranged from four to nine years, reflecting the serious nature of their crimes. The convicted include Charlie Albert Webb, aged 20 from Newton Flotman, Norfolk, who received a five-year sentence; John Eli Loveridge, 42, of Greenways, Carleton Rode, Norfolk, sentenced to seven and a half years; and John Stanley Loveridge, 23, also from Greenways, Carleton Rode, Norfolk, who was sentenced to six and a half years. Other members include Joseph Holmes, 21, of Schole Road, Willingham, jailed for four years; Danny Stone-Parker, 28, of Braintree Road, Great Dunmow, sentenced to six and a half years; Timothy Stone-Parker, 24, of Clay Way, Ely, also jailed for six and a half years; Joe John Spencer Loveridge, 19, of Winchester Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire, sentenced to four years; Richard Oakley, 27, of Sandy Park, Beck Row, Suffolk, who received five years; and Johnny Oakley, 25, of the same Suffolk location, sentenced to five and a half years.

Additionally, Simon Oakley, aged 45 from Alburgh Road, Hempnall, Norwich, was found guilty of conspiracy to burgle after a trial held on October 31. He was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in the criminal enterprise. Detective Inspector Craig Harrison, who led the investigation, emphasized the gravity of the gang’s impact, stating, “These sentences reflect the scale and impact of this gang’s offending. Every one of their crimes had a victim, and the trauma and devastation caused in such a short period were immense. They showed no regard for the suffering inflicted on communities, especially in south and east Cambridgeshire, which were particularly hard-hit, along with other regions across the East of England.”

The gang primarily targeted rural homes, where they believed they could make quick escapes. They also stole high-performance vehicles to improve their chances of outrunning police pursuits. Their criminal activities were widespread, with incidents reported in numerous towns and villages across Cambridgeshire, including Littleport, Wisbech, Fordham, Burwell, Prickwillow, Dullingham, Ely, Waterbeach, Soham, Abington, Cambridge, Chippenham, Little Shelford, Isleham, Sawston, Hardwick, Willingham, March, Histon, Swavesey, Longstanton, Little Downham, Stow cum Quay, Doddington, St Ives, Stretham, Chippenham, Balsham, Cottenham, Cheveley, Elsworth, Swaffham Bulbeck, Fulbourn, Newmarket, Teversham, Boxworth, Yaxley, and Friday Bridge.

Further complicating the case, two other men, James Pateman, 55, of no fixed address, and Thomas Brown, 54, of Fen Road, Chesterton, Cambridge, were also convicted of handling stolen goods. Their trial at Norwich Crown Court revealed their involvement in the disposal of stolen jewelry between March 12 and November 7, 2017. Pateman was sentenced to three and a half years, while Brown received an eight-year term.

In a related case, Simon Oakley, owner of Stratton Quick Fit, a garage and workshop located at Elite Business Park on Salamanca Road in Norwich, previously admitted to possessing a firearm without a license and handling stolen goods. Court records indicate he provided false registration plates, directed others to commit crimes, and assisted in hiding stolen vehicles, passing them off as legitimate. The police crackdown on this organized crime network underscores the seriousness with which authorities are tackling rural burglaries and thefts across the East of England, aiming to restore safety and security to affected communities.