Opportunist burglar caught red-handed at train station

A burglar who broke into four homes in five days across Lingfield and Woldingham has been sentenced to a 45 month prison term after being caught red-handed with stolen goods.

James McDonagh (11/06/81) of no fixed address broke into two homes in Lingfield on Oct 26, 2023, and then two more in Woldingham four days later.

McDonagh was captured on CCTV and RING doorbell footage prowling around back gardens trying doors and looking through windows to see if homes were empty or unlocked.

At one house in Woldingham he can be seen flinging rocks to smash through the glass back door. Once inside he went into the bedroom and stole items including designer leather goods and jewellery.

Returning home soon afterwards, the quick-thinking owners checked their footage and posted a description of him on their community social media groups.  Later that night, police were able to tell them he had been located and arrested and their property had been recovered after he was spotted at Woldingham train station by local residents.

Investigating officers then conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, forensic examinations and a CCTV trawl which enabled them to link McDonagh to the other local offences. 

Detective Constable McBain said: “McDonagh was an opportunist thief who would walk around communities looking for properties that were empty and back gardens that were not overlooked. Then he would smash his way in and take whatever he could grab and carry.  I am extremely pleased he was able to be located quickly, could be linked to other offences by police work, and that some of the items he took could be safely returned to their owners.”

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: https://www.surrey.police.uk/police-forces/surrey-police/areas/campaigns/suspicious-activity-portal/