A PERSISTENT pair of burglars have been sentenced to over 10 years in prison.

Lee Nweze, 29, of Kirk Road, Walthamstow and Shafiq Fakira-Darmudus, 19, of no fixed abode, have been sent to prison for a series of “millennium burglaries”.

These type of burglaries see criminals break into a house to take keys to cars parked outside the home, which are then stolen.

At the end of June, last year, officers saw a “distinct increase” in millennium burglaries in Waltham Forest and Redbridge.

The Waltham Forest Crime Squad began investigating and identified Nweze and Fakira-Darmudus as two people “actively committing residential burglaries” to steal cars.

In total over 20 offences were identified in connection with the pair.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday (March 24) Nweze was sentenced to 5 years and four months, while Fakira-Dannudas was given five years in prison.

Assistant detective inspector Mallinson said: "This investigation shows the lengths we at Waltham Forest will go to support the residents of the Borough.

“Offences of this nature are extremely impactive for the victims, and I hope the sentences today will be a deterrent to those who commit these offence.”

Leading the case, DC Myatt said: "This investigation shows the lengths the Pro-Active Unit at Waltham Forest will go to arrest and convict persistent criminals in the borough.

“I would like to thank all the victims and witnesses in this case who assisted with the investigation."