For ten years, a burglar was sentenced to prison for stealing thousands of pounds from an elderly man by pretending to be a policeman in order get into his victims’ homes.
David Kerrigan (38) targeted victims all over London and stole thousands from them using a false police warrant card.
Kerrigan was able to gain access to their houses by telling them that two thieves had been arrested near them and asking if he could check for any thefts.
Twelve victims aged between 61-96 were invited to join him for con.
To make the theft even more easy, he searched every room in the house looking for things to steal. He also asked his victims where their money was kept.
Wallets and purses containing around £4,000 of cash in total were stolen by Kerrigan and he also took jewellery, watches and bank cards.
At nearby shops he would use the bank cards and spend below £35 to avoid the contactless spending limit at the time.
According to police, none of the property stolen was found and returned by the victims.
David Kerrigan 38 (pictured) targeted many victims in London between April-August last year. He used a fake police warrant card and stole thousands from them
In Kensington, Chiswick Gunnersbury Brent Park and Acton, the serial burglary took place between April and August 2013.
Burglaries were also committed in Golders Green and South Tottenham as well as East Ham, Walthamstow, and East Ham.
Kerrigan was captured by police after detectives in Newham and East London investigating burglaries discovered a pattern that could be replicated in other parts of the city.
Detective Sergeant Keith Faris, North East Burglary and Robbery Unit at the Met, recalled a historical case in 2013 and helped investigators make their breakthrough.
Investigators managed to connect a relative to Kerrigan. CCTV footage from the shops that sold victims’ cards showed it to be the defendant.
Kerrigan was taken into custody and refused to enter the interview room so that police could speak to him. Detectives then interrogated Kerrigan in his cell.
The interviewer was not able to answer his questions. He remained still on the bed, and then suddenly rose up.
Kerrigan shouted at them through the slot of his cell’s door after the interviewing officer had left.
Kerrigan was captured by police after detectives in Newham and East London investigating burglaries discovered a pattern that could be replicated in other parts of the city. Kerrigan captured from CCTV footage
Kerrigan was sent to Snaresbrook Crown Prison for 9 years and 10 Months on Friday 26 November after she pleaded guilty to 12 counts burglary, and one case of racially aggrieved harassment.
The Met Police Detective Sergeant Keith Faris, who was the lead of the investigation, stated after the sentencing that Keithgan had preyed on the elderly and vulnerable, and used their trust to steal their money and valuables by pretending to be a police officer in plain clothes.
“We won’t tolerate such offending, and we will aggressively target those who believe they can exploit the elderly and vulnerable.
“Once Kerrigan was caught, he ventially abused an officer by using racial language.”
“Police officers understand that verbal abuse is an unavoidable part of their jobs. But racism is unacceptable and we will aggressively pursue anyone who has racially abused officers or members.
He warned those who doubt his belief to make use of the newly introduced measures for identifying single officers in response to the murder of Sarah Everard, serving police officer Wayne Couzens.
He stated: “This is it!” [the conviction]It was an incredible effort from my team. Kerrigan had to plead guilty due the overwhelming evidence that they discovered.
“I want to remind you all to keep an eye out for distraction thieves, as they often target the elderly and the vulnerable.
To gain your trust and to access your home, ‘distraction burglars’ pose with fake IDs or uniforms.
They could claim they are required to inspect your meters or fix any plumbing problems.
Snaresbrook Crown Judge sentenced the serial burglar to nine years and ten months in prison on Friday, November 26, after Kerrigan pleaded guilty to twelve counts of burglary as well as one count of harassing racial groups earlier this month. Kerrigan in the shop on CCTV
Use your spyhole and door chains wherever possible. Always ask for ID paperwork or a badge.
If in doubt, dial the number at the company from which they work – they will not provide a phone number that you don’t know – and then contact the police.
If they claim to be police officers, you can ask them for their warrant card. You will need their name and number.
If you still have doubts, you can call 101 and ask them to confirm their story. Or, get the single plain-clothed officer who is using our system to call an uniformed supervisor from one of our operations rooms. This will verify the encounter properly and record it.
“Any real police officer would allow you to do this for legitimate reasons, and in fact would encourage it.”