Brazen burglars who pretended to be police officers jailed

Two brazen burglars who pretended to be police officers to steal from an elderly man have been jailed.

William Patton and Jonathon Banks talked their way into the man’s house in Shildon early on January 29, posing as undercover police officers with walkie talkies.

Whilst inside, they told the victim they were investigating thefts in the area whilst at the same time stealing the keys to his car.

They later returned and tried to use a pitchfork to steal the man’s trike which was chained outside his house and when that failed, they took a pedal bike and his car.

About an hour later the pair also stole two pool cues from another car.

The man’s grandson called 999 after becoming suspicious of the men from viewing doorbell footage and real officers were quickly dispatched.

Patton, 33, and Banks, 35, were swiftly identified by officers and arrested.

The stolen items were also located and returned to their rightful owners.

Patton and Banks, both of Shildon, were charged and initially pleaded not guilty but later changed their pleas.

Patton appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on October 30 where he pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of motor vehicle and attempted theft of pedal cycle and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Banks, who pleaded guilty to the same charges as well as an extra charge of theft of pedal cycle appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on February 27. He was handed a three-year prison sentence.

DC Joshua Chew, who led the investigation, said: “Patton and Banks not only stole from a vulnerable victim but had the audacity to impersonate police officers, even pretending to give the victim crime prevention advice.

“Their actions were atrocious and we are glad to see they are behind bars.”