CCTV footage shows burglars trying to kick door down with schoolgirl cowering inside

The gang of four robbers have been linked to 40 burglaries across the West Midlands over a five-month period

A gang of prolific burglars who were caught on CCTV trying to kick down a front door of a house while a terrified schoolgirl cowered inside have been jailed.

The thieves are believed to have carried out more than 40 break-ins during a five-month crime spree.

The gang targeted wealthy properties in Solihull and Birmingham and made off with thousands of pounds' worth of valuables, including car keys, jewellery and electrical items.

The ringleaders, Daniel Toms, 26, and Adil Iqbal, 20, raided three homes in just two hours on 19 October last year.

Four days later they were joined by Taylor Burns, 18, as they again targeted three homes in quick succession.

They were joined by a fourth crook, Caleb Ilsley, 18, who took part in a burglary on 13 March of this year where designer watches and an antique sword were stolen.

CCTV footage captured the moment the gang tried to force their way into a family home in Knowle, West Midlands, while a young girl was inside.

The girl, who was home alone while her parents walked the dog, hid under a desk as she heard the burglars repeatedly booting the door.

They were finally caught when police found their Ford Fiesta getaway car abandoned which linked them to Iqbal.

Officers also found CCTV of Burns wearing the same jacket while buying screwdrivers and gloves shortly before they attacked homes on 23 October last year.

Toms and Iqbal admitted seven burglaries, as well as dangerous driving, at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

Toms was jailed for five-and-a-half years and Iqbal sentenced to three years in a youth offenders’ institute.

Burns admitted three burglaries and was sentenced to 20 months in a youth offenders’ institute.

Ilsley – whose blood was found at the scene of a break-in when he hurt his hand smashing a window - admitted burglary and was sentenced to two years in a youth offenders’ institute.

Detective Constable Alan Reeves, from West Midlands Police Force CID, said: “Toms has a long criminal history for burglary; we suspected he was involved and placed him as wanted on national police systems.

“He evaded capture for some time but his luck ran out just before Christmas when he was spotted driving a stolen car.

“We have proved this group were behind up to 10 burglaries but it’s suspected they were involved in many more, possibly in excess of 40.

“Their tactic was simply to knock on doors and, if they didn’t get a response, try to force the door open or simply just kick it open.

“They put one schoolgirl through an awful ordeal: she heard them trying to hammer their way inside and took cover under a desk.

“Thankfully they failed to get in but their offending undoubtedly caused lots of distress and inconvenience to residents in Solihull and Birmingham – and I’m pleased they’ve been handed lengthy jail terms."

Police also released dashcam footage of Iqbal driving the stolen getaway car at more than 90mph towards Chelmsley Wood late on the evening of 15 October.

Officers stung the tyres of the Ford Fiesta but despite having two punctured tyres he carried on driving at 70mph in a desperate bid to evade capture.

He was finally caught and arrested for dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

SWNS.