The moment serial burglars were chased down and arrested just 150 metres from homes they had stolen £28,000 worth of gold and cash from has been revealed.
Officers rushed to calls of a burglary in Chadwell Heath, East London, involving two thieves on December 15.
Within half an hour, police had blocked escape routes and forced the pair of thugs to flee onto the High Road on foot.
Dramatic footage shows officers sprinting to catch the thieves – who were just yards ahead of them – before handcuffing them in the street.
The thugs were found with two gold rings, two gold bangles and three gold necklaces, which had all gone missing from the property.
An investigation discovered the men had also been at the centre of other break-ins, including an ordeal at a nearby address where a safe containing £25,000 worth of gold and £3,000 cash was stolen.
Geani Bogonos, 42, of Chadwell Health, and Vasile Filip, 26, of East Ham, were sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court last Monday after pleading guilty.
PC David Izard, the officer in charge of the investigation, said: ‘Burglaries are a huge intrusion of privacy and have a lasting impact on communities.
‘As highlighted here, our officers responded at speed and showed real bravery to track, chase and detain the suspects.
‘The team then conducted a thorough investigation which showed Bogonos and Filip to be serial offenders – and ultimately led to them being taken off our streets.’
He added: ‘This is all part of the Met’s ongoing response to burglary. Our local community policing teams continue to conduct patrols in hot spot areas to provide a high visibility presence as well as crime prevention advice.
‘If you do have any concerns please speak to officers or contact your local team, details of which are available via our website.’