Two prolific burglars who targeted homes, cars and businesses across Thanet have been jailed.

Ryan Fountain and Sam Crew were arrested by police on July 16 over a burglary which had been reported earlier that day.

But when officers searched the property they were found in, they discovered a number of items which had been reported stolen during other various burglaries.

An investigation found as many as 19 offences were linked to a group of thieves, including car thefts and burglaries which happened in the space of three weeks in June and July.

Fountain and Crew each admitted their involvement in some of the offences and the two men, both 25, were sentenced on yesterday.

Fountain, of no fixed address, was jailed for three years after admitting six offences, including a burglary at a home in Margate Road in Ramsgate, being a passenger in a vehicle reported stolen from St Michael’s Avenue in Margate and fraudulent use of a stolen bank card.

Crew, of Arlington Gardens in Margate, was jailed for four years and three months after admitting five offences, including the burglary in St Michael’s Avenue and aggravated vehicle-taking.

'This was a complicated investigation due to the large number of potentially linked offences' - DC Michael Kingwell

Both also admitted their part in the burglaries of three businesses on July 15, at a farm shop in Birchington, the Co-op store in Hopeville Avenue in Broadstairs and a shop in George Hill Road in Broadstairs.

Investigating officer DC Michael Kingwell said: "This was a complicated investigation due to the large number of potentially linked offences, each with their own body of evidence, and officers worked hard to unpick which offences Fountain and Crew were responsible for.

"We will continue to work to identify the other offenders involved with the aim of ensuring justice is done for the victims.

"As part of our campaign against burglary, we also want to encourage people to think about the safety of their own homes and what security measures they could take.

"Ensure doors and windows are secure, consider installing a safe, make your home look occupied if you go out and use security lighting and CCTV.

"Don’t give burglars the chance to target your home."

To get the latest updates on ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here.

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