Burglar jailed for six years for targeting elderly and vulnerable

A PROLIFIC Kingston burglar who preyed on the elderly and the vulnerable has been jailed for six years.

On Tuesday, James Anthony Mark Hall, 34, was sentenced to six years after admitting to five burglaries and and four years after admitting to two attempted burglaries.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

Hall had been targeting elderly residential and warden assisted care homes since 2009 in the Kingston, Surbiton and Wimbledon area.

He would break into the homes early in the morning or late at night when wardens were not on duty and steal possessions from the elderly residents.

Surrey police and the Kingston burglary squad identified Hall as a repeat suspect and mounted a surveillance operation to gather evidence against him.

On May 6, officers arrested him following a break in at a house in Hersham. When searched he was found to have a large amount of jewellery in his pockets, and had also swallowed a ring that he had taken from the house.

Following the sentencing, DCI Jess Ruddell, from Kingston Burglary Squad, said: "There can be no doubt that Hall is a danger to the community, especially to the elderly.

"Preying on the elderly is a despicable crime that often leaves victims feeling afraid and vulnerable in their own homes.

"I am extremely proud of the officers who worked on this inquiry and displayed such determination to apprehend Hall.

"His prison sentence and the tenacity shown by investigating officers should serve as a warning to others that we will make every effort to bring such parasitic criminals to justice."

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