TWO brothers and a third man have been sentenced to a total of 13 years imprisonment for carrying out seven distraction burglaries in one day. They included tricking their way into warden-controlled homes in St Albans and London Colney on December 6, 2008

TWO brothers and a third man have been sentenced to a total of 13 years imprisonment for carrying out seven distraction burglaries in one day.

They included tricking their way into warden-controlled homes in St Albans and London Colney on December 6, 2008, by claiming to be investigating a water leak.

All the victims were in their seventies or eighties.

John Cawley, 48, his brother Patrick Cawley, 51, from Kilburn and David Brown, 27, from Harlesden were sentenced at St Albans Crown Court last Friday.

Brown and John Cawley had both pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to conspiracy to burgle and Patrick Cawley was found guilty after a trial in December 2009.

John Cawley and Brown received four and a half years imprisonment and Patrick Cawley was sentenced to four years.

Det Con Guy Reynolds from Operation Manhunt said: "They are callous and cowardly crimes where vulnerable victims are targeted.

"These three men conned their way into these victims' homes by claiming to be investigating a water leak. This is one of the most common tricks used by distraction burglars and I would urge anyone faced with a caller they believe is suspicious not to let them into your home and call police immediately.