Further charges for man arrested in connection with Kings distraction burglary

A man has been charged with a further 24 distraction burglaries, including one in Kings Langley, after he was arrested in March following a Crimewatch appeal. Thomas Hannifin, aged 23 and of no fixed address, was arrested on March 10 by officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s specialist team, Operation Manhunt, which is dedicated to investigating crimes which affect the elderly. He was arrested after officers appeared on the March programme of Crimewatch appealing for information about a series of 35 distraction burglaries which occurred across the south east of England between August and October 2014. The investigation spanned Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey and London. The victims were mainly aged in their 80s and 90s, with one victim aged 94. In the vast majority of cases, the offenders are alleged to have created a false reason to gain entry to the property to steal, such as investigating a burst pipe, or repairing a water leak. Hannifin was initially charged with three burglaries which occurred in Barnet, Bramshott and Slough. He was remanded into custody. On Monday, June 22 he was charged with a further 28 burglaries, of which 24 are distraction burglaries, and one robbery. He is next due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on July 1.