Inside the garage where 'burglary kits' led police to a relentless thief
A relentless car thief was unmasked when police discovered 'burglary kits' inside a garage and in the boot of a stolen Audi.
Officers at Greater Manchester Police launched an operation in August last year after a spate of high-value car burglaries across the region, as well as in Cheshire and Derbyshire. Over several months they pieced together bits of evidence - which ultimately led them to Damon Keegan.
The 31-year-old, from Hyde, was found to have targeted people in their homes as they slept. He broke in and stole their car keys, using a 'sophisticated' operation to snatch the vehicles.
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Over the space of just a year Keegan stole almost £350,000 worth of high-end cars including BMWs and Audis, police said. He was busted when officers searched a garage and found a lock-picking set, a spy camera and a sledgehammer.
Another 'burglary kit' was also found in the boot of an Audi A3 that he had stolen, with a radio frequency jamming device - used to block Wifi linked to people's doorbells cameras - found with his DNA on. Police released pictures of the equipment today after Keegan was jailed at Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday (September 27).
The court was told how 'intrusive' burglar Keegan was first identified as the suspect in the spate as burglaries after a probe was launched last year. GMP's Serious Organised Crime Group was brought onto the case and a surveillance operation was launched.
During the probe, officers found a garage near his home which 'appeared to be used solely for the preparation of burglary offences'. Officers uncovered lock picking sets, blank car keys, a spy camera, a sledgehammer, a blow torch, replacement footwear, clothing, an axe and several Apple Air Tags.
When Keegan was arrested in November 2023, he was found with the radio frequency jamming device. His crimes were then unveiled, with Keegan's victims left feeling 'uneasy in their own homes' each time he committed a burglary.
In October 2023, a black BMW X5 was stolen from a driveway in Lymm. A court heard how Keegan, who had to wear an electronic tag at the time, disconnected the WiFi so the owner wouldn't receive any alerts from their doorbell camera.
He then broke into the house and stole the car keys. In November 2023, an Audi A3 was stolen from a home in Glossop.
The car was traced to a garage in Blackley, before it was then tracked to Leeds. Police found it had been for 'extensive modifications' and looked 'unrecognisable' with false plates added to the car.
A 'burglary kit' including ladders, tools and stick-on registration plates was found in the boot. Audi A3's were also stolen from Keegan from homes in Timperley, Congleton and Stockport, police added. Keegan, of Woodland View, Hyde, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to burgle, seven counts of burglary, one count of attempted burglary, eight counts of theft of motor vehicle, one count of going equipped to steal, and three counts of handling stolen goods and dangerous driving.
He was jailed for six years and 11 months. After the sentencing, Detective Constable Holden from GMP's Serious Organised Crime Group, said: "Keegan was a prolific burglar with a string of similar past convictions, who, over the space of twelve months stole over £300,000 worth of luxury cars.
"His methods were intrusive and ruinous, often breaking into people’s houses whilst they slept, leaving them unable to get to work or take their children to school when they woke up to see their cars gone and homes tampered with. This was an extensive investigation which crossed borders and involved collaboration with neighbouring forces to link Keegan’s crimes and ensure he faced consequences for all his offending.
"His crimes had significant financial and emotional impacts on our victims, and I hope this demonstrates that regardless of the steps you may take to conceal your offending, we will exhaust every line of enquiry to ensure you are put behind bars. Ultimately, the cases brought by the team in this investigation were so overwhelming, Keegan had no option but to plead guilty."