Burglar who stole over £1m worth of watches jailed

A burglar who stole over £1m worth of watches from a Kent shopping centre has been jailed for six years.

David Buisson travelled to Bluewater, in Greenhithe, with an associate in a car which had cloned number plates, Kent Police said.

He gained access to a service area and then the roof, where he climbed into the business he was targeting using a telescopic ladder.

The force added he then went to a secure area where he "overcame several security measures", before stealing more than 150 watches.

David Buisson was sentenced to six years and one month in prison at Maidstone Crown Court

Staff went to the scene after an alarm was activated, and then called police.

The investigation by police found the car had travelled to Bluewater more than 10 times, sometimes using other false number plates, before the raid on 7 February.

On each journey it stopped in Harlow, Essex, where Buisson lived, police said.

Examination of multiple CCTV cameras at locations on the route to Bluewater showed he had been present in the vehicle, it added.

Buisson stole watches totalling over £1m from Bluewater shopping centre

Buisson was tracked down in Penrith, Cumbria, and arrested on 12 February.

Police found a camera with a memory card, which had video footage of the burgled business prior to the offence being committed.

Buisson was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and was remanded to prison.

His associate was also charged with the same offence but died while on remand.

Buisson, aged 56, of Malkin Drive, Harlow, Essex, pleaded guilty and on Thursday he was sentenced to six years and one month in prison at Maidstone Crown Court.

Det Con Harry Groves said: "Buisson is a career criminal who spent a considerable amount of time planning this high-value burglary."