Two burglars from County Durham who posed as undercover police officers to steal from an elderly man have been jailed for a combined seven years.
William Patton, 33, and Jonathon Banks, 35, talked their way into the victim's home in Shildon early on January 29, pretending to be undercover officers carrying walkie talkies. While inside, they told the man they were investigating thefts in the area and stole the keys to his car.
The burglary and thefts
The pair later returned and attempted to use a pitchfork to steal the man's trike, which was chained outside his house. When that failed, they took a bike and his car. About an hour later, they also stole two pool cues from another vehicle.
The victim's grandson called 999 after becoming suspicious of the men from viewing doorbell footage, and real officers were quickly dispatched. Patton and Banks were swiftly identified and arrested, and the stolen items were located and returned to their owners.
Court proceedings and sentences
Both men, of Shildon, were charged and initially pleaded not guilty but later changed their pleas. Patton appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on October 30, where he pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and attempted theft of a pedal cycle, and was sentenced to four years in prison.
Banks, who pleaded guilty to the same charges plus an additional charge of theft of a pedal cycle, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on February 27 and was handed a three-year prison sentence.
Police reaction
DC Joshua Chew, who led the investigation, said: “Patton and Banks not only stole from a vulnerable victim but had the audacity to impersonate police officers, even pretending to give the victim crime prevention advice. Their actions were atrocious and we are glad to see they are behind bars.”
