Caught on camera (and by forensics): Two burglars jailed after targeting homes in East Surrey

Alvaro Agudelo (27/11/1990) and Esteban Llancaman (28/08/1983) were sentenced on Friday (Dec 1) following their conviction for burglary and attempted burglary.

On June 28 2023, a woman in Banstead was on the morning school run when she got a notification on her mobile phone that her home security system had detected movement in the back garden.

On her phone app she saw live footage of two men dressed in balaclavas sneaking into her back garden and breaking into her house by climbing onto a low roof and going through a first-floor window.   

The victim quickly called her husband and alerted the police, but the two thieves left within minutes having stuffed a backpack with a selection of jewellery, watches, and foreign currency.

As part of enquiries to identify them, investigating officers studied the footage from the app and checked the victim’s dashcam footage from that morning and the day before.

On the dash cam they identified a grey Toyota Corolla parked near the house both on the day of the burglary and the day before. Checks showed the car was not local - it was registered in London, insured to someone different in Luton, and had entered Surrey early in the morning from Brixton on both days.

Believing this vehicle could have been driven there to observe residents coming and going, a marker was placed on its licence plate for it to be stopped on sight by any officers.

Eight days later, on 6 July, Metropolitan Police Officers stopped it in the Lambeth area. Inside were Agudelo and Llancaman along with a number of mobile phones and a rucksack containing screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches and specialist lock picking equipment.

Both men were arrested on suspicion of going equipped for burglary and for the burglary in Banstead.  Analysis of their mobile phones placed the men at the site of the offence and revealed they had taken photos and videos of some of the items they had stolen.

Agueldo was also further charged with an attempted burglary from 2021.

On the evening of Friday 11 June 2021, a couple at a property in Epsom heard the sound of breaking glass and went into their back garden. They saw two men smashing their way into a nearby home and started shouting at them.

The thieves had got into the rear conservatory of the house but ran away once they were disturbed. Nothing was taken but they did leave behind a crucial piece of evidence.

Forensic officers from Surrey Police found a small droplet of blood on a cushion that had been used to cover the broken glass as the burglars made their way in and out.

DNA analysis later matched the blood to Agudelo.

Detective Constable McBain, from Surrey’s Proactive Investigation Team, said: “I am incredibly pleased to see these two thieves behind bars. Burglary is an invasive crime which can leave people feeling unsafe in their own homes.  Often the items taken are not even particularly high value but are hugely sentimental such as wedding gifts and family heirlooms.  

“These men came into our county with the sole intention of committing crime but were brought to justice by digital technology and some good forensic work."

Alvaro Agudelo was sentenced to 20 months for burglary and attempted burglary. Esteban Llancaman was sentenced to 15 months for burglary.

In conjunction with our 'Autumn Nights' burglary campaign, we are asking that if you spot any suspicious activity in your neighbourhood, to make sure you report it via our suspicious activity portal.