Prolific burglary gang jailed over night-time school raids

At least 20 schools were targeted by the group between May 2013 and 2014 in late night raids, with some repeatedly burgled.

The burglaries resulted in costs of nearly half a million pounds for damages and losses.

Police arrested Imran Yousef, 32, of Edison Close in Walthamstow, after raiding his home on May 7 last year. 

Computer equipment and £8,000 in cash were seized.

A further warrant was executed at his business address, Platinum Computers in Leytonstone High Road, where officers found items stolen from schools.

Yousef was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced to six years in prison.

A further six men were arrested and five were sentenced alongside Yousef at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday (June 19).

Richard Baker, 32, of Springhills in Harlow, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced to five years and three months.

Danny Simpson, 32, of Silver Birch Avenue in Chingford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and jailed for four years and 10 months.

Jason Hardcastle, 28, of Withy Mead in Chingford, was convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary and sentenced to three years and eight months.

Ryan Greenhow, 20, of Langthorne Road in Leytonstone, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced to two years and nine months.

Alax Alabo, 31, of Larkshall Road in Chingford, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced to five years.

Superintendent Phillip Langworthy said: "The proactive operation used several police tactics leading to the handler being identified and arrested. My team then worked hard to identify those committing the burglaries.

“These sentences will ensure these men will not be setting foot in Waltham Forest or any other area for some time.

"I would really like to emphasise to residents, schools and businesses that property marking is essential to identify property and return it to the rightful owner.

“We recovered property that took painstaking enquiries to identify and something as simple as an address in a UV pen easily identified some owners."

A seventh man, Arron Tack, 19, of Clova Road in Forest Gate, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary.

He is due to be sentenced tomorrow.

Imran Yousef, from Walthamstow, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Ryan Greenhow, 20, of Langthorne Road in Leytonstone, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced to two years and nine months.

Jason Hardcastle, 28, of Withy Mead in Chingford, was convicted of conspiracy to commit burglary and sentenced to three years and eight months.

Danny Simpson, 32, of Silver Birch Avenue in Chingford, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and jailed for four years and 10 months.

Alax Alabo, 31, of Larkshall Road in Chingford, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced to five years.