Prison for burglary spree pair

16 HOMES TARGETED ACROSS REGION

- By Rob Kennedy

HOMES across the North East were plundered for valuables worth around £70,000 by a pair of thieves during a spate of burglaries.

Richard Clough and Anthony Thompson targeted houses while homeowners were out, stealing items including cash, watches and jewellery.

Newcastle Crown Court heard 16 homes in Birtley, Gateshead, Washington, Chester-le-Street, Springwell, Whickham and Burnopfield were all broken into on 10 different dates during the spree.

Now, Clough and Thompson, who were convicted of conspiracy to burgle, have been locked up.

The court heard that in all of the offences, they turned their phones off or left them in a separate locations before travelling to the houses in Clough's Mercedes. They gained access to the properties by snapping locks on patio or back doors. One homeowner had valuables worth £30,000 stolen.