A burglar who attempted to flee the country to evade capture, pleaded guilty on Wednesday 21 August to burglary relating to incidents across seven counties, including Kent, Essex, London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Wiltshire.
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Leonardo Velasquez-Valencia was denied entry to Canada and detained at Heathrow airport has been jailed after breaking into a Sevenoaks home. The 37 year old, of no fixed address, has since been sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday 31 October 2024.
Kent Police’s emergency call handlers received a report of a burglary at a property near St John’s Hill just before 7.30pm on Thursday 8 February 2024. The suspect left the scene by foot prior to officers’ arrival with various items including jewellery, cash, a laptop, and a handbag.
An investigation saw detectives identify Velasquez-Valencia as the perpetrator after a forensic examination of the property in Sevenoaks recovered some DNA. Collaborative work with other forces further revealed he was responsible for a number of burglaries which occurred elsewhere in the country between 1 February and 29 March 2024.
To avoid police, Velasquez-Valencia flew to Canada on Tuesday 25 May but was refused entry for having 6,700 Canadian and US dollars on his person and no valid reason for carrying such a large quantity of cash.
He was arrested and remanded upon his return to the UK in connection with the Sevenoaks burglary and a number of others.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Joshua Littley, said:
‘Velasquez-Valencia committed a crime spree, for his own financial gain, giving little thought to the impact on his victims.
‘He callously stole heirlooms, sentimental jewellery pieces, and caused substantial damage to a number of properties. His actions not only left victims feeling unsafe in their own homes but grieving the loss of items that held considerable meaning for them.
‘I hope the offender’s lengthy custodial sentence offers some comfort to those he wronged, and serves as yet another reminder to perpetrators and would-be criminals that crime does not pay.’