Burglars have been jailed for break-ins across Biggleswade, Sandy and Potton as part of a wide-scale police operation.

Frankie O’Leary pleaded guilty to a number of distraction burglaries in all three towns in May, including one incident where he tried to trick an elderly woman living in Potton into thinking he was from her housing association.

The vigilant victim asked to see his identification and refused to give the 18-year-old any money when he could not produce any, before she called her housing association and the police.

O’Leary was arrested by officers who spotted his vehicle in the area before pursuing him on foot – investigators were then able to link him to four similar offences, each of which involved the targeting of an elderly victim.

At Luton Crown Court last week O’Leary was sentenced to three years behind bars for the offences, and the court also took into consideration three further offences he had admitted, which took place in Sandy and Upper Caldecote during May.

In a separate incident, Peter Smith was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods and attempted burglary in relation to break-ins in Biggleswade and Wrestlingworth.

The 33-year-old was linked to the Biggleswade offence after stolen items were found during a search warrant carried out at his address in Hitchin Road, Arlesey.

Officers linked him to the Wrestlingworth break-in after finding his vehicle shortly after the offence was reported.

He was also re-sentenced to serve two years in prison, reduced after previously admitting five burglaries during a suspended sentence, as part of the Integrated Offender Management scheme – leaving him with a total of four years behind bars.

Det Sgt Tammy Scrivens, from the burglary cohort team which supports Operation Fidelity, said: “Last month’s long list of successes are the result of joined up working from the Operation Fidelity team, whose disruption of burglary nominals has consistently brought down burglary levels and has even helped raise the force to number one in the country for improvements in dealing with the crime.

“The message to burglars is clear – you are not welcome in Bedfordshire and we’ll do everything in our power to disrupt your activity and bring you to justice for your crimes.”

For information on Operation Fidelity and advice on keeping your home safe and secure, visit www.bedfordshire.police.uk/tackling_crime/burglary.aspx.