Three men have been jailed for their roles in a burglary and robbery series which targeted individuals and businesses across Greater Manchester
Junior Owen aged 32 Alderue Avenue, Wythenshawe,has been jailed for eight years and two months, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and burglary.
James Melia aged 33 of Millom Avenue, Wythenshawe has been jailed for seven years and two months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, possession with intent to supply, and handling stolen goods.
Anthony Watson 39, of Broomwood Road, Timperley, has been jailed for six years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery.
The investigation began on 21 February 2024, when officers responded to reports of a personal robbery in the car park of John Lewis in Cheadle, Stockport.
A woman was placing bags in her vehicle when a man wearing a balaclava approached brandishing a screwdriver.
He demanded that she hand over her watch – threatening to stab her if she didn’t do so. He then also made her give him her engagement diamond ring. The watch was worth around £160,000, while the ring was around £20,000.
She turned around to see another offender, who also made threats towards her not to look at him, before the two made off and police were called.
Once officers identified the suspect vehicle – which was a stolen/cloned car – they extensively tracked movements of it, utilising all available CCTV, ANPR, and other footage available to them.
As a result of this, they were able to construct and map out the route taken immediately following the incident.
Similarly, phone-work and data analysis corresponded with the vehicle being used as part of the robbery.
Investigative work in the weeks and months that followed found that the victim had been followed prior to the robbery – and a tracking device had been fitted to her car. Once again, phone work linking the suspects to the area was identified.
Watson, Owen, and Melia were arrested for their involvement in the robbery, with significant property such as a tracker, watches and drugs seized from their addresses. The trio later plead guilty to their involvement as the evidential case was overwhelming.
Following their arrests for the Cheadle robbery, officers began to review their mobile devices and identified them to have committed further crimes targeting high-valued goods across a series of terrifying robberies and burglaries across Cheshire, and Greater Manchester.
This included locations in Stockport, Altrincham, Wilmslow, and Alderley Edge, with the first incident occurring in 2021, and the majority of offences then taking place in 2023. In total, they were linked to eight crimes.
In the first instance, they stole ten watches from an address – with a total value of approximately £50,000.
In another crime, targeting a business selling designer goods in Altrincham, handbags worth £200,000 were stolen from an industrial premises. A security guard was threatened with a machete after responding when motion sensors activated during the incident.
Police found messages between the trio where they would plan the robberies in detail; how they followed the victims, how they would rob them – all in which they showed no consideration for the harm they would cause.
Melia was also found to have later researched websites to sell the stolen property.
A further crime included the robbery of a vape store in Stockport, with the various vaping goods being stuffed in a duvet bag. Around £5,000 was also taken during the incident in January 2023, with the stolen vapes later being advertised for sale.
Another robbery in Stockport in January 2023 saw goods with a retail value of £300,000 taken from a store, after the worker was threatened. The CCTV was ripped out before the offender left through the rear doors.
Another two of their crimes involved threatening women for their jewellery within their own homes – with one being at knifepoint and one incident seeing a woman held by her hair and forced to take her wedding rings off her finger, whilst they made threats to her life.
Detective Constable Lucy Williams, from GMP’s Stockport district, said: “These three criminals made a living out of violently stealing other people’s hard-earned belongings, being motivated by personal gain and not caring for who they threatened.
“This was a complex and comprehensive investigation, which saw extensive phone and data analysis, mapping out the three criminals and linking them to their offences. I want to pay tribute to the officers with Stockport’s Neighbourhood Crime Team who have dedicated so many hours to help get today’s results.
“Their crimes left people terrified for their own lives and unsafe in their own homes, and I am glad they are now behind bars for their actions.
“I hope that their victims can feel some comfort at today’s result – we take reports of robberies and burglaries incredibly seriously and will do our utmost best to find those responsible.”
