Prolific burglar faces next two years behind bars

A Surbiton man is facing the next two and a half years behind bars thanks to his involvement in six burglaries across the county.

Darren Turner (DOB 03.01.84) was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court last Thursday (9 May) to 31 months imprisonment and ordered to pay £228 in victim surcharges.

Turner began his burglary spree on July 27, 2022, when he broke into a restaurant in Sunbury-On-Thames, taking £260 cash from the till and causing around £3,000 worth of damage to the small family run restaurant.

Following this, on August 16, 2022, he broke into a student flat in Egham while the victim was at home and stole items valued at £1,750. The victim heard breaking glass in his bedroom, went to investigate and found Turner reaching into his bedroom and stealing his Mac Book.

The next break in took place at a restaurant in Sunbury-On-Thames on September 7, 2022, where he stole £100 in cash. Next came a business, again in Sunbury-On-Thames on September 29, 2022, where he stole IT equipment valued at around £375.

A further burglary occurred at a residential property at Chessington Road, Epsom on October 11, 2022, where £760 worth of tools were stolen. Turner was caught on CCTV attending a local pawn shop the same day with the stolen tools pawning them for cash. On November 12, 2022, Turner broke into a restaurant in East Molesey where he caused £90 worth of damage. Thankfully he was disturbed before he managed to steal anything.

Turner was identified thanks to a thorough investigation involving forensic work and CCTV. He was arrested on November 28, 2022, and remanded into custody. He appeared at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, 5 April this year where he pleaded guilty to one dwelling burglary, four non-dwelling burglaries and handling stolen goods in relation to the second dwelling burglary.

Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Daniel Bell, said: “I want to praise the victims of this case for their patience and fortitude. This has had a massive impact on all of them; it’s one of people’s worst fears having their house broken into. In addition, each of the businesses that Darren Turner targeted were small, family run businesses which impacted the victim’s livelihoods. Surrey Police takes burglary extremely seriously; it’s one of our force priorities and we will continue to relentlessly pursue those who commit such crimes.”