Six people charged with series of burglaries across southern England

Six people have been charged by detectives in connection with a series of 75 burglaries and one robbery across southern England dating back to 2018.

Operation Hepworth is the investigation into an organised crime group responsible for the offences that took place across East Anglia, London and the Home Counties between 2 February 2018 and 16 September 2019. On 16 October 2019 almost 100 police officers executed search warrants at a caravan site in Red Lodge, where a large amount of property suspected to be stolen was recovered.

Five men and a teenage boy were all arrested at the site and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning, before being released on bail. 

This operation was supported by the Metropolitan Police, who carried out searches of linked properties in London and arrested a further suspect.  A large amount of property suspected to be stolen was recovered in London.

Norfolk Constabulary and Cambridgeshire Police also assisted in the operation.

A further male was arrested on 6 October 2020 and a woman was arrested on 29 November 2021 in connection with the investigation. They were both bailed after being questioned.

Five men and one woman were subsequently summonsed to appear at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Friday 19 December, charged with conspiracy to commit burglary with intent to steal.

Their details are as follows:

•         Michael Pio McDonagh, aged 32, of Coventry Road, Nuneaton;

•         Edward McDonagh, aged 28, of Coventry Road, Nuneaton;

•         James O’Driscoll, aged 45, of Broadway, Bexleyheath, London;

•         Tara Power, aged 30, of Bridge End Road, Red Lodge;

•         John Connors, aged 29, of Smith Close, Thurston;

•         Martin Connors, aged 25, of no fixed address;

John Connors and Martin Connors did not attend and so warrants have been issued for their arrest.

The other four defendants were released on bail pending a next hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday 19 January.

A 30-year-old man and a 23-year-old man who were also arrested on 16 October 2019 remain under investigation, as does a 37-year-old man who was arrested on 6 October 2020.