Violent Burglar from Northolt Jailed for Nine Years
Luke Connors caught after Flying Squad team up with Neighbourhood Watch
Luke Connors. Picture: Met Police
July 4, 2023
A violent burglar from Northolt who targeted the elderly and vulnerable in a sustained crime spree has been jailed for nine years.
23-year-old Luke Connors of Attewood Road was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and robbery, following a two-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court.
He was involved in a spate of burglaries between Wednesday, 31 August and Friday, 28 October last year. He was arrested after members of a local neighbourhood watch worked with the Flying Squad to identify him and his accomplices.
On Sunday, 4 September a man in his seventies was on his way home from a pub in Ickenham when he spotted men in masks looking suspicious. The group noticed him and, unbeknown to the victim, followed him in his car to his home. As he got out of his vehicle was punched and stabbed with a screwdriver. They stole his dash-cam from his vehicle.
Members of Ickenham’s Neighbourhood Watch and other residents came together and provided relevant CCTV footage to officers who were then able to discover the vehicle the offenders were using.
The Flying Squad, working with local officers in north and west London, along with other police forces in Hertfordshire and Thames Valley managed to identify 11 burglaries that could be linked to the same gang. In the region of £200,000 of cash as well as jewellery and other high value items had been stolen.
Detectives reviewed hours of CCTV and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) data. They carried out surveillance and on Tuesday, 1 November they arrested Connors in Paddington Green.
Detective Superintendent Simon Morning, from the Met’s Flying Squad, said, “Luke Connors committed violent burglaries in north and west London. By listening and working with residents we were able to investigate, detain and convict him for his heinous offences.
“Detectives established the offences were linked by the use of vehicles and stolen items. Working collaboratively with local neighbourhood watch teams’ detectives were able to build their evidence.”
A local resident from Ickenham Neighbourhood Watch, said, “This was a dreadful assault on our resident which sent shock waves through our community.
“This was a fantastic investigation by the Met's Flying Squad and the North West/West Area investigation team who really engaged with our community. Residents were understandably very nervous, afraid even of giving evidence against the perpetrators. However, we all realise that unless our communities step forward and support our police then the criminals have won and we descend into a state of lawlessness.
“That simply cannot be allowed to happen. A brilliant investigation, well done.”
Two further men were also arrested in connection with these offences and await trial.
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