Four jailed in London in 1 million pounds heist targeting South Asian community; crime network dismantled, cash and gold seized

Four members accused of stealing over 1 million pounds worth of jewellery from London’s Indian and South Asian communities were jailed Friday after they pleaded guilty to burglary.

Jerry O’Donnell, Barney Maloney, Quey Adger and Patrick Ward, part of an organised crime network, have been sentenced for a total 17 years and one month after the Metropolitan Police led out a “comprehensive operation” against them.


Head of investigation Met Police detective sergeant Lee Davison, said the gang “largely targeted the South Asian community throughout the capital,” as quoted by PTI.

“This comprehensive operation enabled us to disrupt a key part of an organised crime network. As a result of the work conducted by specialist officers, a handful of serial criminals will now spend a substantial amount of time behind bars,” he added.

Three of the men- O’Donnell, Maloney and Adger- were caught in July 2024 with stolen jewellery following a year-long intelligence-led investigation.

Officers stopped their car after CCTV linked it to several burglaries. Inside, police found hundreds of stolen items, including a gold wedding ring, necklaces, and a solid gold hair pin. Each received sentences of over five years.

Ward was arrested later at his home and identified as a key member of the same network. He was sentenced to two years and five months.

As part of the investigation, officers also searched a Hatton Garden jewellery shop believed to be used for melting down stolen gold. They recovered 50,000 pounds in cash and eight kilos of jewellery, including a World War One officer’s Rolex, a gold locket with old photos, an engraved gold ring, and a gold pocket watch from Harlow Bros Ltd.

Police said that dozens of people came forward after a public appeal in March, and many of the most recognisable items have been returned to their owners. However, officers are still working to trace the owners of the remaining stolen jewellery.

The burglaries took place between December 2023 and July 2024 across south London areas such as Croydon, Sutton, and Wandsworth, and in counties including Surrey, Sussex, and Essex.