- Serial burglar jailed for four years
- Heroin addict Kevan John Falle stole £10,000 worth of property
- He broke into 24 houses and flats over two years
- Warning from Police – make sure your homes are secure
A SERIAL burglar who confessed to stealing £10,000 worth of property from homes during a two-year crime spree has been jailed for four years.
Kevan John Falle – a heroin addict with 110 previous convictions, including 51 for burglaries and theft – broke into 24 houses and flats over two years and left one woman so scared that she has since moved home.
But his crimes only came to light when he was arrested for breaking into his neighbour’s home in March and he confessed to a series of other offences dating back to July 2012 in an effort to ‘wipe the slate clean’.
The 42-year-old agreed to be driven around the Island in a police car to point out the homes he had targeted.
Many of the crimes had not been reported to the police because, in some cases, there was no evidence of a break-in and homeowners thought family or friends had taken the goods.
The Superior Number of the Royal Court, which convenes only for the most serious offences, heard that Falle broke into many of the homes in daylight when the victims were out, but that two of the incidents occurred at night.
The majority of the offences occurred ‘within days’ of Falle’s release from La Moye Prison last November where he had been serving time for a ‘cowardly and foul’ grave and criminal assault.
Outlining the case, Crown Advocate David Hopwood said one woman, who had been ill in bed when Falle entered her home and stole £87 in change, had been so traumatised by the ordeal that she has had to move home.
‘She is now very nervous when on her own and flinches at the slightest unusual sound,’ he said.
The advocate added that in another case Falle had broken into a couple’s home and passed out on the stairs before being woken by the homeowners.
He explained he was ‘lost’ and then tried to leave the property by climbing the garden fence.
‘As he reached the top his weight shifted causing one of the wooden slats to break free, pivot upwards and strike the female householder in the face,’ Advocate Hopwood said. She suffered minor injuries.
The defendant pleaded guilty to 24 charges including breaking and entering, illegal entry, theft, breaking and entering with intent and attempted breaking and entering.
Following his sentencing the States police said offenders who continue to be involved in this sort of crime were a ‘focus’ for the force.
‘If caught they can expect to face similar consequences,’ they added.
Advocate Caitriona Fogarty, defending, agreed with the Crown’s recommendation of a four-year prison sentence but said her client, who has battled with drug addiction, should be given full credit for effectively ‘writing his own indictment’ by leading the police around the Island and identifying homes he had targeted ‘by sight’.
Commissioner Sir Michael Birt said offences of this kind were serious but he credited Falle for his honesty.
Jurats Paul Nicolle, Robert Kerley, Charles Blampied, Geoffrey Grime, Sylvia Milner and Rozanne Thomas were sitting on the case.
ISLANDERS are being reminded to ensure their homes are secure after a serial burglar was jailed for four years for a spate of thefts spanning three years.
Detective Inspector Steve Langford said despite acquisitive crimes such as burglary and theft being relatively low in the Island it was essential for homeowners to ensure their properties were secure.
The warning comes after Kevin John Falle (42) was jailed for 24 counts of burglaries and attempted break-ins.
In some cases the homeowners did not even know their properties had been entered until Falle confessed to his crimes to police earlier this year.
The police said Falle’s conviction was a positive outcome and added that commercial and residential burglaries remained a priority for the force.
‘Some of these victims from these addresses weren’t aware their homes had been entered and we were fortunate to have recovered some of the stolen property,’ Det Insp Langford said.
It emerged in court that Falle confessed to his crimes after he was arrested for burgling his neighbour’s home and stealing £900 in cash. He accompanied officers in a patrol car and drove around the Island identifying homes he had targeted in an effort to ‘wipe the slate clean’.
Det Insp Langford added that criminals who continue to engage in similar activities should expect ‘similar consequences’ if found by the police.
‘Although there continues to be a reduction in reported burglary in Jersey, we still recognise the impact it can have on a family knowing that your home has been entered by a total stranger.
‘We would therefore remind the public to remain vigilant with regards to home security.
‘We would also like to say to those offenders who regularly continue to be involved in this type of criminality that they will continue to be a focus for the force and our Priority Crime Team and that if caught they can expect to face similar consequences,’ he said.
The court heard that several of the crimes that Falle, a father-of-three with 110 previous convictions, confessed to had not been reported to police.
Det Insp Langford said anyone who may have been offered stolen goods or with any information on someone involved in this type of crime should contact police on 612612 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
