Burglar Films Himself, Lands Gang in Jail

A burglar's decision to film himself preparing for break-ins, including donning a balaclava and showing off cash, ultimately led to his downfall and the capture of his entire crime gang. Hamza Ghafoor, 22, inadvertently provided police with critical evidence through videos captured on his phone, which showed him driving luxury cars and handling large sums of money.

This self-incriminating footage was instrumental in convicting Ghafoor and four other individuals for conspiring to commit burglary. Between September and November 2023, the gang conducted a series of high-value vehicle thefts across East Lancashire, travelling approximately 54 miles from Bradford to commit these crimes. Stolen vehicles, often driven at high speeds in convoy, were involved in crashes and some were later abandoned.

Operation Swindon successfully dismantled the gang, with Ghafoor receiving a six-year sentence. His accomplices, including Kamran Ahmed, Mohammed Zubhir, Denzel Muduma, Jordan May, and Dylan Shuttleworth, were sentenced to a combined total of 15 years. Additional evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, and a cracked iPhone found in a stolen car further solidified the case against them.