Hunt for the UK's ten most wonted tricksters

Crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, is today launching a list of 10 Most Wanted people sought in connection with distraction burglaries and warning people to be careful about who they let into their homes, as the traditional peak time for this crime approaches (February/March). Distraction burglary is a crime which particularly effects elderly people, the average age of a victim is 81-years-old. [18 January 2010]

Crimestoppers has been working with Operation Liberal, the unit which provides a national intelligence overview of distraction burglary crime, which has produced the list of 10 Most Wanted individuals.

Distraction burglary is any crime where a falsehood, trick or distraction is used on a house to gain, or try to gain, access to the premises to commit burglary. Violence is increasingly being used by offenders against the elderly in order to gain entry to their homes and steal their property.

Weather related distraction burglary methods have been reported from various parts of the country with the criminals using tactics such as: clearing snow off drives for a small amount, then stealing from the house when the victim goes to pay and telling victims they need to check boilers, frozen pipes and radiators because of the bad weather.

Prevention advice on this crime type is available here. Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers said: “Distraction burglars are clearly hideous individuals as they tend to prey on elderly, vulnerable people to rob them of life-long treasured possessions by using devious tactics and in many cases, violence. Some victims suffer a decline in health and even die as a result of the trauma caused by these criminals. If you have any information on these wanted individuals, please contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously, we guarantee that no one will know your identity.”

Dame Vera Lynn, Co-Patron of Sussex Crimestoppers branch, said: “As someone who has been a victim of burglary several times, I can’t reinforce enough how frightening it is. Worse than having your possessions taken, is having your confidence stolen as well. A home is where everyone should feel safe and relaxed, not anxious and worried at what might happen. We must not let these despicable criminals get away with traumatising people and stealing treasured possessions. I fully support the charity’s campaign and urge the public help bring justice to victims by passing on information they may have about distraction burglars to Crimestoppers anonymously.”

Assistant Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary and Association of Chief Police Officers lead for Operation Liberal, Peter Goodman, said: “Distraction burglars trick their way in to the homes of the elderly and vulnerable, generally by pretending to be an official of some kind or asking for assistance.

“Operation Liberal works together with all UK police forces to target and bring to justice those individuals who prey on the vulnerable in society. Our message is – if you’re not sure who is calling, then don’t open the door, check their identity first.

“There have been many recent examples of vigilant members of the public reporting suspicious behaviour to the police which has led to a number of distraction burglars being arrested. We want this to continue.

“Should anyone have information about someone they believe is carrying out these terrible crimes please call police or if you prefer, phone Crimestoppers, who will treat your call anonymously.”

The 10 wanted individuals are:

Name: Patrick Gilheaney
Image ref: SU1
Force: Suffolk
Location: Suffolk
Appeal summary: Gilheaney is currently sought in relation to a series of Distraction Burglary and Burglary Dwelling offences committed over a five month period between Sept 2008 and February 2009 spanning five force areas. Crimes have occurred in Suffolk, Norfolk, Staffordshire, Bedfordshire and Leicestershire, predominately against vulnerable elderly victims.
Description:
Sex: Male; Age Range: 20 – 25; Height: 160 – 165 cm (approx 5′ 4″); Build: Slim; Hair Colour: Dark; Ethnic Appearance: White European.

Name: Michael Antony O’Driscoll
Image ref: AS2
Force: Avon and Somerset
Date: 20-Oct-2009.
Appeal summary: Males attended at the home of an elderly gentleman on the pretence that they were dealing with a plumbing problem. Subsequently stole cash.
Description:
Sex: Male; Age Range: 30 – 35; Height: 165 – 170 cm (approx 5′ 6″); Build: Slim; Hair Colour: Ginger/Red; Hair Type: Short crop; Hair Length: Short; Facial Hair: None; Ethnic Appearance: White European;
Additional Info: Irish accent

Name: James Paul O’Driscoll
Nickname:Mark Dunn, Stephen O’Neill
Image ref: AS1
Force: Avon and Somerset
Date: 20-Oct-2009
Appeal summary: Attended at the home of an elderly gentleman on the pretence that they were dealing with a plumbing problem. Subsequently stole cash.
Description:
Sex: Male; Age Range: 30 – 35; Height: 175 – 180 cm (approx 5′ 10″); Build: Slim; Hair Colour: Black; Hair Type: Short crop; Hair Length: Cropped; Facial Hair: None; Ethnic Appearance: White European
Additional Info: Has a southern English accent.

Name: Dennis Graham Yull
Image ref: HU1
Force: Humberside
Location: Grimsby
Date: 18-Aug-2009
Appeal summary: Humberside Police would like to speak to this male about a distraction burglary. Do you know where he is?
Description:
Sex: Male; Age Range: 55 – 60; Height: 170 – 175 cm (approx 5′ 8″); Build: Medium; Hair Type: Receding.

Name: John Nolan
DOB: 11/05/1987
Image ref: NI1
Force: Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
Location: Belfast
Date: 13 November 2007
Appeal summary: John Nolan is wanted in connection with a violent burglary of a 72 year old lady. There were 3 culprits who, on entering the house, punched the victim, knocking her to the ground. She was threatened with further violence. The attackers searched the property and made off with a substantial sum of money, leaving the victim traumatised.
Description:
5′ 8″, Slim Build, Blue eyes, Irish accent.

(E-FIT IMAGES):

Name: unknown
Image ref: HU2
Force: Humberside
Date: 21-Jan-2009
Location: Anlaby, Hull
Appeal summary: Humberside Police are seeking the identity of a male who attended a block of elderly persons flats and gains entry by purporting to be from the water board. He is allowed access to the flat of a 92 year old female and whilst in the premises steals her purse and contents.
Description:
Sex: Male; Age Range: 25 – 30; Ethnic Appearance: White European

Name: unknown
Image ref: DE2
Force: Derbyshire
Location: Moor End, Spondon
Date: 6-Nov-2009
Appeal summary: At 11.20pm on 6th November 2009 a distraction occurred at Moor End, Spondon, Derby. The method used was checking for burglaries. The circumstances are during the late evening the victim is at home alone when she has heard knocking at the back door. Concerned, she went into the front lounge and opened a small window and shouted out several times “HELLO”, the victim could still hear the knocking and went into the kitchen. Here she has seen a male stood at the kitchen door, knocking. He then came into view in the kitchen window. Not opening the door, but opening the window the victim asked this male who he was and he replied something about being from the “NEIGHBOURHOOD, CHECKING BURGLARIES IN THE AREA”. The victim asked for identification to which the male replied “OPEN THE DOOR AND I’LL SHOW YOU”. The victim refused to do this, shut the window and returned to the lounge. Upon entering the lounge the victim could see the male leaning into the lounge through the open window. The victim states that the male was looking around the room. The male was asked to leave to which he replied “I WONT DO YOU HARM. I’M WITH THE POLICE”.
The victim has again asked the male to leave and the male has then become aggressive towards her and grabbed out shoving his right hand arm through the window. The victim has jumped backwards and seen that the male was wearing a cream cloth wrapped around his right hand. The male has demanded money the victim told the male that she was going to call the Police. The victim has then reached for her Carelink alarm and activated it. At this point the male has made off from the property.

Name: unknown
Image ref: DE1
Force: Derbyshire
Location: Stanton Road, Sandiacre
Appeal summary: The male is sought in connection with a distraction burglary which occurred at 1pm on Wednesday 2nd December 2009 at Stanton Road, Sandiacre. The circumstances are as follows an unknown male offender entered the private dwelling on premise of being from the water board. He told the elderly victim to turn on taps and fill a bucket in the kitchen, he told him to keep the tap running because there was a problem with the water pressure. Offender stays with the victim in the kitchen during which time a second offender enters the dwelling, goes upstairs, makes search of wardrobes and steals money from within before exiting dwelling. Offender in kitchen then finishes off the work he is pretending to do and also leaves. The victim has found a substantial amount of cash missing.
Description:
He is described as a white male, 24yrs, 5’9″ tall, average build, with an Irish accent, wearing a dark jumper with some kind of emblem on the chest area (which side unsure), tracksuit bottoms, white cotton gloves. He had a round face, short medium brown tidy hair, thin brown eyebrows, beady eyes, average nose, small mouth, thinnish lips.

Name: unknown
Image ref: HA1
Force: Hampshire
Location: Aldershot, Hampshire
Date: 4-Jun-2009
Appeal summary: A woman dressed in a uniform called at the victim’s home and claimed her car had broken down outside. The victim went to assist, although the woman remained at the front door whilst the woman was trying to sort out the car. After around 4 to 5 minutes, the woman went back to her home then invited the suspect in whilst she waited for the recovery service. The suspect said she would wait with her car but left a few minutes later. The victim then discovered that several rings and a bracelet had been taken from her house.
Description:
White female, 30s to 40s, 5ft 5-7ins, average build “with a motherly look”. Suspect was a pretty and smiling smart lady with twinkly eyes. She had mid length blonde slightly waved hair with ‘volume’ in a Bob hairstyle. Suspect was in a non-descript blue colour nurse’s or carer’s uniform (suspect said she was a carer) with piping around the edges of the collar and sleeves. Suspect could possibly have had a type of fringe. The suspect had a natural look.

Name: unknown
Image ref: HA2
Force: Hampshire
Location: Preston Candover, Basingstoke
Date: 16-Sep-2009
Appeal summary: Officers have released an image of a man responsible for a distraction burglary in Preston Candover on Wednesday, September 16. Around 1.55pm a man called at the address of an elderly woman in Stenbury Drive. The man said he was from a building site nearby and that there had been a water leak so he needed to check everyone’s water. The victim let him into the house and he went to examine the water pipes. A second man then entered the house via the back garden and left the gate open allowing the victim’s dog to escape. She went to get the dog and on her return the two men were leaving with cash in their hands. She challenged them and they told her that she had been burgled and that they had caught the people responsible and were taking the cash to give to police. The men then left stealing around £600 which the woman had been saving to buy a new gravestone for her parents.
Description:
1: White Male, aged in his 20′s, 5’6/7”, average build. Suspect wore all dark clothing which consisted of a jacket and trousers. He had a rubber glove on one of his hands and on the other he had some kind of mark down his finger. He had very dark hair which flopped to one side, all his features were normal and in proportion to his face, he was young looking and had a slim face. He was clean shaven and spoke quietly as witness said she struggled to hear him.