Shameless burglars with same name thought they could 'take what they liked'

The pair - both called Bernie McDonagh - used the same car in Warwickshire raids and didn't bother trying to hide themselves

Two shameless crooks - both named Bernie McDonagh - have been jailed over a nationwide burglary spree. The pair used the same car in all the raids and did not bother trying to hide away from detection, police said.

The Warwickshire force could not say whether the two men were related. They struck three homes in Coventry and Warwickshire in the space of ten days last month, while the older McDonagh, 56, raided an address in Upminster, Essex, last November.

He was referred to by police as "Romford McDonagh", while the younger man, 35, was addressed as "Coventry McDonagh". The older man, of Heather Close in Romford, Essex, was jailed for four years, nine months, and two weeks and banned from driving for 270 days.

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He was convicted of three counts of burglary, one count of attempt burglary, one count of going equipped for burglary, driving without insurance, and driving while disqualified. His younger accomplice, of Villiers Road, Coventry, was jailed for two years.

He was convicted of two counts of burglary, one count of attempt burglary, and one count of going equipped for burglary. Both were sentenced at Warwick Crown Court on September 17.

Warwickshire Police said the pair tried to break into a property on Birchwood Road in Binley Woods, Coventry, on August 1 but only succeeded in damaging the lock and door frame. They were seen arriving in a black Lexus and reversed onto the drive at the time the damage was caused.

On August 6, the McDonaghs forced the back door of a home on Coventry Road in Bulkington and stole more than £3,000-worth of belongings - a 55-inch television, six watches, and a necklace. Again, they were caught on camera arriving in a black Lexus, and later loading the TV into the car.

On August 10m they were seen breaking into a property on Main Street in the village of Willey. They spent five minutes inside before leaving in a black Lexus. This was also captured on CCTV footage and the home was ransacked with jewellery again taken.

On November 22 last year, Romford McDonagh broke into a property on Bridge Avenue in Upminster, Essex, through a back door. An untidy search was conducted, and cash of various currencies was taken as well as two valuable watches. The total value of property and cash was around £5,500.

DNA from the hammer used to break the glass on the back door was analysed and traced back to Romford McDonagh. Det Insp Alan Hands, of the Serious Organised and Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “The McDonaghs thought they could go from house to house across the country and take what they liked, when they liked, without any repercussions.

“They used the same car each time and were caught on CCTV repeatedly, indicating that they took very little care in trying to remain unseen. It was a pleasure for us to bring this little piece of reality to them through these prison sentences, and to give the victims of these burglaries the reassurance they have been suitably punished for their crimes.”