Three people appear in court in connection with cross-border creeper burglaries

Three people have appeared at Derry Magistrate’s court today charged in connection with what police described as a ‘creeper burglary gang’ operating on both sides of the border.
One of the men had 260 previous convictions for burglary.
27-year-old Edward Crerand, of Brookdale Park, Derry, was one of three charged in connection with a number of burglaries in Derry and Donegal in May and June.
The others were 34-year old Jonathan Ayton, of Bond’s Hill, and 24-year-old Karen McDonald, of no fixed abode.
The court was told that two thirds of the burglaries were committed in Donegal.
The PSNI officer said that a Jeep stolen in one of the burglaries was spotted in Strabane with two men and a woman in it.
It escaped across the border and was found burnt out in Donegal Town.
He said that there was a creeper burglary in Donegal Town and another vehicle taken that was found in Clonmany where yet another burglary happened.
A few days later Gardai then spotted a stolen vehicle near a caravan in Donegal. The occupants made off and the vehicle was found abandoned outside Derry.
When Gardai searchedd the caravan they found stolen goods.
The officer said that police also believed they could connect all three to an address in Park in County Derry where more stolen goods had been found.
The court also heard that Crerand had 260 previous convictions for theft and driving matters, while Ayton had nine for burglary.
The District Judge, Mr. Eamonn King said that he believed there were no conditions he could impose that would prevent the risk of further offences being committed and remanded all three in custody.
They will appear again in Derry on July 1.