Prolific burglar, who left the country for five years, is now jailed

Detectives from Bedfordshire Police's burglary team, Operation Maze, have put a prolific burglar behind bars after he evaded police and spent the last few years in another country.

Michael Cawley pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burglary which occurred over an eight-week period in 2019 at various locations within Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Cawley targeted properties in Luton, Dunstable, Aylesbury, and St Albans and officers investigating managed to identify him via CCTV at each scene.

Before police could arrest him, Cawley left the UK for Ireland and was a wanted person for a number of years. He was finally arrested in February this year in North Wales, after arriving on a ferry from Dublin.

Cawley, 26, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to burglary and was sentenced to a total of one year and eight months at Luton Crown Court last week.

Detective Constable Jason Wheeler, from Operation Maze, who led the investigation, said: “Cawley targeted properties and stole jewellery and cash. He then fled to Ireland and was not apprehended until he came back recently. The victims can now finally have closure, knowing that he will be behind bars, and I hope that upon release, Cawley will have a crime free future.

“Burglary causes a great deal of distress for victims, so we will continue to persist in our efforts to catch these criminals even after many years have passed. CCTV evidence linked Cawley to the offences, giving him no option but to plead guilty.”

Reporting crimes and suspicious activity to police is crucial for maintaining community safety and security. Call 101 or report online.

If a crime is progress, always call 999.