FOUR men stole mobile phones, bikes, and clothes in a series of raids across six counties, costing firms more than £400,000 in damages and lost stock.

Bleu Alford, Callum Knox, Leroy Dashwood and Damian Smith appeared at Southampton Crown Court today. 

The court heard that the group would travel in a convoy in a variety of vehicles targetting businesses with high-value stock including supermarkets, bicycles, mobile phones and clothing stores. 

Taking place between October and December 2020, the conspiracy saw 16 burglaries committed in Hampshire alone. 

A further three occurred in Surrey, three in Dorset, two in Avon and Somerset, one in Sussex and one in Wiltshire. 

READ MORE: Southampton gang jailed for burglaries across Hampshire

The overall value of stolen goods and loss due to damage totalled nearly £420,000. 

An investigation also saw a number of stolen vehicles on cloned plates recovered which were used during the burglaries. 

Private hire vehicles were also used.

The businesses hit included Tesco Express in Spring Road, Southampton, where £840 was taken. Botley MTB saw £30,000 worth of electric bikes stolen.

Some £20,000 worth of jackets were taken from Go Outdoors. 

Six cars were taken from Hampshire Trailers & Roof Rack Centre.

The four men had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to burgle at various hearings between November 2022 and April 2023. 

Alford, 32, of Lower Canal Walk, Southampton, was jailed for two years and eight months. 

Knox, 36, of Minstead Avenue, Southampton, was jailed for two years and four months. 

Dashwood, 32, of Chiltern Green, Southampton, was sentenced to two years suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation sessions and undertake 200 hours unpaid work. 

Smith, 42, of Bullar Road, Southampton, was given 20 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months with 35 rehabilitation sessions and 180 hours unpaid work. 

Three other men had previously been sentenced for their part in the conspiracy during a hearing on June 27. 

READ MORE: In the dock: Criminals sentenced in Southampton in July

Detective Constable Paul Beasley, who led the investigation, said: “We have taken a very well-planned, thought-out operation and got them off the streets and behind bars; where they will now spend a significant period of time for their troubles."