'Ruthless' and callous burglary gang raided elderly and vulnerable victims - including Shropshire homeowners

Three members of a “ruthless” gang who burgled elderly and vulnerable people’s homes have been locked up.

Over a five-month period from January last year, three men and a woman conspired together to burgle six homes - including at Gobowen near Oswestry, and Chirk.

The gang mainly targeted vulnerable and elderly residents.

North Wales Police told how the callous raiders would scope out their victims before targeting their homes days later, taking cash, jewellery, and valuable watches.

Police said the group came up with preposterous cover story believing they would fool some of their elderly victims, claiming they were ransacking their homes in a bid to find their missing cat.

At a hearing this week Adam Purcell, 37, of HMP Berwyn, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Michael Berry, 26, of HMP Berwyn, was sentenced to three years in prison.

Michael McGuire, 51, of HMP Berwyn, was sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison, and Anne Delaney, 36, of Moss Road, Wrexham, was sentenced to 23 months in custody, suspended for two years.

Operation Venom, an investigation led by the North Wales Police Priority Crime Team, discovered the gang were using cloned registration plates on vehicles and turning their phones off as the burglaries took place in an attempt to cover their tracks.

On June 12 last year officers executed a series of warrants at the suspects’ homes and each were arrested on suspicion of their role in the conspiracy.

All four gang members appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday, April 30, having previously admitted conspiring to commit burglary with intent to steal.

The conspiracy began in early January 2025 when members of the gang targeted their first victims – an elderly couple in their late 80s from Broughton, Flintshire.

They watched the couple who were out shopping, before following them home to identify their address.

Four days later on January 13, they ransacked the victims’ home in front of them, stealing almost £5,000 in cash.

Weeks later, another elderly woman in her late 80s from Penycae, Wrexham, was targeted as she was followed on the bus home.

Three days later, her home was burgled as she dozed in the living room watching TV.

Sentimental jewellery, watches and £300 in cash was stolen.

On February 13 the gang broke through the back window of their next victim’s home after they had scoped out their property in Gobowen, days earlier.

They returned home to find their house had been ransacked, with cash, watches and jewellery stolen.

The same evening, the gang burgled another address nearby in Chirk, Wexham, while the victims were out, stealing £3,500 in cash, watches and a car key.

The following month, police received a report of a fifth burglary at an address in Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham.

While out shopping, the victim watched the masked gang breaking into his home on his CCTV camera through his phone.

When he notified a neighbour who went to check on the house, the gang fled the scene with more than £6,000 worth of jewellery and £100 cash.

The vehicle used to commit the burglary was later scrapped in a desperate bid to cover their tracks.

In early May, they began preparing for their next offence after collecting a car and parking it near to the victim’s address in Malpas.

The following day, they smashed their way into the house through the patio door, taking a watch and a set of keys to the property.

They attempted to alter the appearance of the car used in the burglary to avoid detection.

Superintendent Mark Williams, eastern area commander, said: “This ruthless organised crime gang targeted a number of innocent families – some who were extremely vulnerable – stealing cash and sentimental family jewellery for their own financial gain.

“I do not underestimate the devastating impact that intrusive crimes of this nature have on victims, leaving them with trauma which can be lasting.

“I commend the efforts of all those involved in this comprehensive, complex investigation in securing today’s result, and I hope each of the victims, and local communities, feel some comfort that this gang now face a total of almost 10 years behind bars.

“I hope today’s result sends a clear message that burglary will not be tolerated by North Wales Police, and we will continue to target offenders and stop them from preying on vulnerable members of our society.”