Six individuals have been sentenced to prison after acknowledging their participation in a series of burglaries throughout the south-east region of England.

The Surrey Police reported that the group aimed at 53 residences across several areas, including Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, London, Hertfordshire, and Essex, from November 2024 to March 2025.

They were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, having each pleaded guilty to various charges.

Detective Chief Inspector Antony Leadbeatter described their actions as “burglary on an industrial scale – a form of organized crime targeting everyday homes with persistent criminal behavior.”

He emphasized, “Our message to those committing burglaries is unequivocal. If you prey on Surrey, we will take action against you.”

Surrey Police revealed that the gang was apprehended “in the act while in a stolen vehicle filled with stolen goods” in March, following a covert operation by the county’s Serious Organised Crime Unit which utilized surveillance techniques, including CCTV, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), and drones.

The thieves employed stolen vehicles with cloned license plates, deliberately left their phones behind or turned off, and attempted to eradicate forensic traces using cleaning sprays in their efforts to avoid capture, as stated by investigators.