Ricky Severn and Darryl Clarke jailed over raids across Hampshire and Dorset

Ricky Severn and Darryl Clarke raided 12 commercial properties in just two months - including one haul of £60,000 from a Southampton city centre clothing shop.

The duo also targeted stores in Eastleigh, Netley Abbey and Basingstoke, as well as two in Wimborne, Dorset.

In total, it is estimated that Severn and Clarke stole near to £100,000 worth of goods, mainly cigarettes and one occasion, £65,000 worth of clothes from the John Anthony Store on Above Bar Street, Southampton.

Where did they target?

• On March 15, Central Convenience Stores on Bayard Place in Wimborne, Dorset was broken into just before 3am. Entry was gained by using crow bars forcing the front door. Large amount of cigarettes stolen. 55180038818 (Dorset Police investigation)

• On March 15, McColls Newsagent on Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh was broken into between 4am and 4.25am. Entry was gained vie the rear door. Large amount of cigarettes were stolen. 44180097226

• On March 15, the alarm at the Locus store on Wimbourne Road West, Wimborne was de-activated. No entry was gained. CCTV showed offenders trying to enter.  55180038834    (Dorset Police investigation)

• On March 13, McColls Newsagent at the Lordshill Centre was broken into just after 4am and a large amount of cigarettes were stolen. 4418094223

• On March 13, the glass front of the Co-op store on Archers Road, Southampton was reported as smashed at 3.26am. Officers deployed and found significant damage had been caused but entry had not been gained. 4418094205.

• On March 13, The Co-op on Victoria Road in Netley Abbey was broken into at 3pm. Windows were smashed. Cigarettes stolen. 4418034206.

• On March 13, the Co-op on West End High Street was broken into between 1.40am and 1.50am. Entry was gained with crow bars forcing the rear fire door. Large amount of cigarettes, till float and charity box stolen. 44180094224. CCTV available in link.

• On March 2, The John Anthony store on Above Bar Street, Southampton was broken into just before 11pm. The rear security door was forced open. Clothing was taken from the stock room and the store front. Estimated £65,000 worth. 44180081179 CCTV available in link.

• On Feb 28, The Co-op on Hursley Road, Chandlers Ford was broken into between 3.15am and 3.25am. The rear doors were forced open with a crow bar. Cigarettes stolen. 44180077712

• On Feb 28, Central Stores on Spring Lane, Eastleigh was targeted just before 2am. Entry gained by forcing front door. Entry was gained and more than £5000 worth of tobacco was stolen. 44180077690.

• On February 19 between 2am and 3am, three men were seen by a man who lived nearby to be trying to break into the Sainsbury’s petrol station shop on Wallop Drive, Hatch Warren in Basingstoke. The man went over to intervene, but the men turned on him, stole his mobile phone and assaulted him with crow bar. The shop was not broken into. 44180065415

• On February 19 at 3.40am, three men were reported to have raided the Asda petrol station kiosk on Maynard Road in Totton. Armed with crow bars again, they threatened staff and stole cigarettes. 44180065404

How did they do it?

The burglaries were planned and followed a specific method.

Most of the crimes occurred in the early hours of the morning. Thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes were stolen and then likely sold on illegally.

The suspects wore masks and scarves to cover their faces, used crow bars to gain entry to shops, and the cigarettes were stuffed into large industrial rubble bags.

Those bags were then thrown in the back of stolen cars on cloned plates which were used as getaway cars at an attempt to make those responsible, untraceable.

In total, five vehicles used in the crimes were found, recovered and seized by police.

How did the police catch them?

Officers cracked the case when Clarke’s DNA was found at the scene of a burglary at a Sainsbury’s store in Hatch Warren in Basingstoke. Soon after the discovery, Clarke was charged and remanded.

When Clarke was arrested, his phone was seized and forensically examined and with that the phone data revealed the conspiracy.

Within his phone detectives were able to identify a contact for Ricky Severn, disguised under a pseudonym.

By identifying Severn, officers were able to evidence key conversations between the pair before, during and after all the burglaries.

Soon after, detectives arrested Severn getting off a plane after he arrived at Luton Airport following a holiday in Malta.

He was charged for the part he played in executing the burglaries and has been in custody since May.

Today, the investigation comes to its conclusion with the pair receiving a combined nine years imprisonment.

Ricky Severn, aged 32, of Alder Road, Southampton was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for conspiracy to burgle.

Darryl Clarke, aged 29, of Summit Way, Southampton was also sentenced to four and half years behind bars for conspiracy to burgle and a further three years for handling stolen goods.

The judge ordered for the sentences to be served concurrently. 

Detective Constable Chris Orr from the Western Investigation Team based at Southampton Central Police Station said: “Severn and Clarke were part of a very organised network of criminals who make their living from crime.

“I am hopeful that Severn and Clarke’s jail terms will show those within their communities who look up to them, that should they commit crime like this, they will also be caught and brought to justice.”