Northolt woman involved in set-up to steal from victim

A woman from Northolt and another from Hayes who created a so called 'honey trap' to lure a man into a date during which his house was burgled - have been jailed.

Amy Moffatt, 25 of Vandrough Crescent, Northolt posed as the victim's date whilst her associate Sarah Ireland, 26 of Webbs Road, Hayes assisted in the burglary at his home in Hayes.

At around 19:45hrs on 12 May, both women at the Sainsburys filling station in Lombardy Retail Park in Hayes, when they spotted the male victim, aged in his 40s, at an adjacent pump.

Moffatt spoke to him and encouraged him to provide his telephone number to her.

A short time later Moffatt sent a text message to the victim to agree a meeting spot later that evening.

At 21:00hrs Moffatt and the man met at Botwell Crescent and went to a nearby pub. During the walk the victim told Moffatt where he lived. Moffatt then informed Ireland of the address via her mobile phone.

Within minutes Ireland went to the house in Hayes with a male associate. They forced the front door open and found a teenage boy - they told him they were searching for someone.

During this time, Ireland kept the boy talking and the man searched the upstairs and stole personal belongings and jewellery. The two suspects left moments after and the boy called his mother who returned home and immediately called police.

She also called her male tenant who was at the pub with Moffatt. He left and immediately returned home.

Detectives from Hillingdon Burglary Squad conducted a detailed enquiry.

In the initial stages of the investigation the male victim disclosed his uncertainty about the woman he met that night, after a hunch he had about her behaviour and the events at the house. From his accounts officers seized CCTV evidence from the petrol station which led to the identification of the vehicle, a black Vauxhall Astra, which Moffatt and Ireland had been using.

Detailed enquiries then led to the location of both women who were subsequently arrested in late May. Despite extensive efforts the male suspect remains outstanding.

Detective Constable Okiki Okunola of Hillingdon's Burglary Squad, said: "Both women played on the vulnerability of a boy in his own home and the trust of a man who thought Moffatt was a genuine love interest.

"The speed both women worked to that evening clearly demonstrates how calculated and heartless they were.

"Tackling burglary remains a focus point for our policing team and a number of proactive, intelligence-led operations are underway to detect and prevent the seasonal rise in burglary associated with longer and darker nights.

"We have already seen a significant reduction in residential burglary and this work will continue well into the New Year and beyond."

Sarah Ireland, and Amy Moffatt, pleaded guilty to the offences earlier this year. They appeared on 12 November at Isleworth Crown Court, where they were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment for burglary.

13th November 2015