Serial burglars who taunted police with emojis on Facebook appeal jailed

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Two burglars who taunted police with a series of emojis on Facebook during an appeal to catch them have been caught and jailed.

Mason McConnon and Harry Gill posted taunting comments on a police appeal for information as to their whereabouts following a string of 80 burglaries.

“Keep hating all u haters cause your be the next victim,” read one message from Gill, followed up with a string of cry-laughing emojis.

Gill even changed his Facebook profile picture to show himself and McConnon laughing, adding a caption saying “do not approach”.

But the men were eventually arrested after a local taxi firm tipped off officers about where they were.

Approximately 80 burglaries were committed in the space of six weeks last year in Cheltenham; police believed McConnon and Gill were involved and issued the wanted appeal in October.

They were sentenced at Gloucester Crown Court.

McConnon, 24, and of no fixed abode was jailed for four years after being pleading guilty to 14 counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary.

Harry Gill, 20, from Cheltenham, was also jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to three counts of dwelling burglary, one count of non-dwelling and one count of handling stolen goods.

He received an additional sentence of one year and four months for a previous suspended sentence for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

The officer in the case, Constable Ed Garlick from the Cheltenham neighbourhood policing team, said: “Mason McConnon and Harry Gill embarked on what I would describe as a burglary spree throughout September and October last year, leaving countless victims in their wake.

“The pair targeted addresses mainly in the day whilst the occupants were absent, forcing entry by smashing rear doors and windows, and then stealing electronics and items of jewellery.

“We have worked tirelessly to identify the legitimate owners of this property, which unsurprisingly, we now know comes from nearby addresses which were burgled.

“Dwelling burglary is a heinous crime, causing long lasting emotional trauma to victims. This series was however particularly horrific, with around 100 being committed over a short period, in the same areas of town, creating great unease and fear throughout these communities.

“We are now able to say that McConnon and Gill were involved in a high number of these burglaries, with them admitting to over 60 between them."

SWNS