Gang targeted Shropshire homes while owners were away, court told

The properties targeted were often those owned by retired couples while they were on holiday, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.

In a lot of cases properties were broken into via a window by the culprits who searched wardrobes and cupboards, and drew curtains.

Grazvydas Kasarauskas, 34, Geidruis Batuis, 33, Tomas Juospaitis, 31, and Gytis Dambauskas, 30, all of no fixed abode, each deny conspiracy to burgle between July 28 and October 9 last year in relation to the burglaries.

Break-ins took place at properties in Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Ludlow, Wem, Pant and Morda as well as North Wales, Cheshire, Hereford, Worcester, Derby and Rugby.

During the trial yesterday, the prosecution went through agreed facts, which gave details of the burglaries.

Miss Mary Loram, prosecuting, said high value items were targeted in the burglaries, while portable ones such as laptops were left behind.

In a three-bedroom bungalow in Ludlow, thieves broke in via the kitchen window and two gold sovereigns, a wedding ring and engagement ring were taken. In a four-bedroom detached property in Morda, near Oswestry, a kitchen window had been forced. Thieves got away with items including a man's watch, two gold necklaces, costume jewellery, 400 Singapore dollars and £200 worth of euros.

In a property in Wem a kitchen window was smashed and earrings and a locket were among the items taken. In Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, a kitchen window was smashed and three gold rings and a pendant were among items stolen.

The jury was also shown CCTV footage in relation to the burglaries in court yesterday.

Earlier in the trial the jury heard new technology helped trap the gang of alleged burglars believed to be responsible for the break-ins. The court heard the routes that a criminal gang took from Birmingham to burgle the homes were plotted by police who seized satnavs from five cars.

The trial continues today, and the prosecution is due to sum up its case.