Cowardly couple jailed for series of distraction burglaries in Wembley and the Home Counties

A Bonnie and Clyde couple who carried out a spate of distraction burglaries days after being released from prison for identical crimes are back behind bars.

Martin Wickens, 21, from Hampton, and Eileen Doyle, 23, from Feltham, tricked their way into their elderly victim’s homes by posing as a neighbour in need of sugar or claimed they accidentally threw a ball in their garden.

Isleworth Crown Court heard the cowardly pair targeted men and women aged between 74 and 94, in Wembley, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley, between September and December last year.

In one case Doyle posed as a carer to trick her way into a 90-year-old woman’s house before letting in Wickens who stole the victim’s jewellery.

The pair were arrested in December after being identified on CCTV footage.

Last week, Wickens was jailed for six years and Doyle was sentenced to five.

DC Hannah Woolford, investigating officer, said: “Wickens and Doyle have done more than commit a crime. By trickery, they lied their way into the homes of the most vulnerable members of society.

“I implore family members to warn their elderly relatives of such deceptions and remind residents not let people they don’t know into their homes; no matter how convincing they appear to be. If in doubt, keep them out, and notify the police.”