"UNSOPHISTICATED" burglars who smashed their way into shops and small businesses have been sentenced for a string of crimes.

Two men were jailed and a third was given a community order in relation to the 46 burglaries, attempted burglaries and vehicle thefts across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, including premises in Harpenden, Redbourn and Markyate.

Most of the crimes, which took place between September 11, 2018 and October 26, 2018, were burglaries or attempted burglaries of small business premises and small shops in rural locations.

The offences also involved the theft of motor vehicles in the West Midlands that the burglars used to commit the burglaries.

Following an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Specialist Investigation Team and Bedfordshire Police’s Community Crime unit at Kempston, all three defendants were arrested.

They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle during a hearing at Luton Crown Court and outlined which of the 46 offences they had individually played a part in.

They were sentenced on Friday 27 September.

  • Lequan Bennett, 20, of High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire was sentenced to three years and nine months in a young offenders’ institute.
  • Kamil Tunnicliffe, 21, of Ridgeway Avenue, Dunstable, Bedfordshire was jailed for three years.
  • Alfie Devlin, of Suncote Avenue, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, who was 17 at the time of the offences but is now 18, was sentenced to a two-year community order, 150 hours' community service and electronic monitoring for nine months, with a curfew.

Detective Sergeant Mick West, of the Specialist Investigation Team, said: “These men committed a large number of crimes in a short space of time. We are pleased that they pleaded guilty and with the sentences they have subsequently received.

“The burglaries themselves were committed in a very unsophisticated manner, with the offenders smashing through windows or using tools such as crowbars to force open front doors to the shops and business premises.

“In the majority of crimes the cost to repair the damage caused far outweighed the value of the items stolen.”

  • A fourth man is currently awaiting sentencing.