Connors preyed on victims in the Hammersmith and East Acton areas

An operation by officers from Hammersmith Crime Squad has led to a man being jailed for a series of artifice burglaries which targeted the elderly.

John Connors, 41, of no fixed abode was sentenced to eight years imprisonment at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, 27 August.

Operation Apate was set up following a spate of artifice burglaries which occurred in the East Acton and Hammersmith areas. A total of 11 linked offences were identified between July 20 and August 11. 

On each occasion the suspect tricked his way into the victims' homes after claiming to be from the 'water board'. He would then distract them while he stole, or tried to steal, valuables and cash.

Many of his victims were aged between 76 and 92 years and suffered from physical disabilities. Two of them were blind.

Officers conducted extensive CCTV enquiries and identified Connors as the suspect.

He was arrested in early hours of Sunday, August 11 following a 999 call to an attempted burglary in progress.

Connors was charged on Monday, August 12 with eight counts of residential burglary and three further attempted residential burglaries where he had failed to gain entry.

He subsequently pleaded guilty at court on August 27.

Detective Constable Andy Griffin, of the Hammersmith and Fulham Crime Squad, said: "We are committed to protecting local residents, and particularly the more vulnerable, from crime.

"Connors is a 'career criminal' who preyed on the elderly to steal from them. The length of sentence reflects the risk that he posed."

August 28, 2013