Prolific Norwich burglars jailed after stealing jewellery from 31 homes across Norfolk and Suffolk

Paulius Mizincevas. (Image: Archant)

Paulius Mizincevas, 24, and Romas Sereika, also 24, were sentenced at Norwich Crown Court for their involvement in more than 30 burglaries where jewellery, worth in excess of £66,000, was stolen.

The places targeted by Paulius Mizincevas and Romas Sereika. Click map to enlarge. (Image: Archant)

Mizincevas' wife and another woman charged with handling stolen property were also sentenced.

The pair, both of Prince of Wales Road, travelled across the county targeting large detached homes, often forcing their way in through doors and windows before carrying out untidy searches.

The defendants would target high-value jewellery items and on many occasions would tip jewellery boxes out onto beds and steal selected pieces leaving behind low-value items.

After committing the burglaries the majority of the property was sent back to Lithuania by courier where payments were then sent back to the offenders via MoneyGram transfers.

Both pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy to commit burglary in connection with 31 break-ins and Sereika was sentenced to six years imprisonment while Mizincevas was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Homes were targeted in and around Norwich including Spixworth and Thorpe St Andrew as well as Hethersett, Cromer, Alpington, Roydon, Reedham and Aylmerton.

Ernesta Judickaite, 27, of Prince of Wales Road, was charged with handling stolen goods from six burglaries worth £6,500 and was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work.

Tatjana Sokolova, 21, also of Prince of Wales Road, was also given an unpaid work order for 100 hours for handling stolen property worth £300 stolen from four burglaries.

Detectives investigating the burglary series made a breakthrough when inquiries led officers to search a flat on Prince of Wales Road, shared by the defendants in May last year. Property was recovered from the address and later established to have been stolen from 13 burglaries.

Det Sgt Martin Clabon, from Norwich CID, welcomed the sentences and said they should serve as a warning to others.

'The burglaries committed by Mizincevas and Sereika were organised and executed in a well-planned manner. This is demonstrated by the fact the men used cars registered in false names to travel to them, would clearly target detached homes and used walkie talkies to communicate once inside homes.'

'The group caused great inconvenience and distress to their victims, stealing valuable jewellery which often held great sentimental value to victims.'

'This outcome proves that we are determined to target organised criminals and I hope this will act as a deterrent to others.'