Five men jailed for over 30 years over Greater Manchester burglary gang
Gang targeted homes across Salford, Bury and Trafford stealing gold jewellery and designer goods
Five members of an organised crime group have been sentenced for a combined total of more than 30 years for their part in a large-scale burglary conspiracy across Greater Manchester.
The gang targeted homes in Salford, Bury and Trafford between January 2024 and May 2025, stealing property worth more than £500,000.
The men were sentenced at Manchester Crown Square Court on Friday 4th September 2026, following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police.
Who was sentenced
Wayne Jones, of Dunedin Drive, Salford, was sentenced to eight years for five counts of burglary.
Luca Staines, currently of HMP Forest Bank, was sentenced to five years and four months for 15 counts of burglary.
David Owen, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to five years and four months for nine counts of burglary.
Liam Dodds, of Cheadle Avenue, Salford, was sentenced to six years and four months for eight counts of burglary.
Rohan Brown, of Riverside Way, Salford, was sentenced to five years and four months for seven counts of burglary.
How the burglaries were carried out
Greater Manchester Police said the investigation uncovered a highly organised operation, with the offenders repeatedly using the same method to identify and target properties.
The force said the group targeted affluent households, seeking high-value items including gold jewellery, particularly family gold, designer handbags and other valuable possessions.
According to police, masked offenders typically gained access to the rear of a property and forced entry through back doors and windows, with most offences taking place during daylight hours when occupants were believed to be away from home.
In one burglary, a child hid in a wardrobe while the offenders searched the room.
In another, a child took refuge in a bathroom while the suspects attempted to gain entry.
Roles within the gang
Investigators said Luca Staines and David Owen played a significant role within the conspiracy, with Liam Dodds acting as the driver for a number of the offences.
Police said evidence recovered from mobile phones linked Dodds and his co-defendants to numerous offences.
Investigators also identified evidence showing Wayne Jones received £14,000 following a burglary in which approximately £70,000 worth of family gold jewellery was stolen.
Images recovered during the investigation showed Owen and Jones posing with large amounts of cash, according to police.
Police response
PC Isabella Parsons, of Greater Manchester Police's Salford Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: "This was a highly organised and persistent burglary network that caused significant distress to dozens of families across Greater Manchester.
"The offenders deliberately targeted homes for financial gain and showed little regard for the impact their crimes would have on victims, including children and vulnerable residents who were present during some of the burglaries.
"The scale of this investigation has been considerable, involving extensive CCTV opportunities, forensic examinations, mobile phone downloads and financial enquiries.
"Since its creation in Greater Manchester, Operation Castle continues to deliver strong results. We are continually seeing justice for victims of burglaries across Greater Manchester, and this latest sentencing is an example of the outcomes our investigations can achieve.
"Thanks to the dedication of detectives and partner agencies, we have secured substantial sentencings and prevented further offending.
"We remain committed to supporting victims and continuing enquiries to identify and return recovered property wherever possible."
Greater Manchester Police said July marked five years since it launched Operation Castle, a dedicated neighbourhood operation aimed at tackling and reducing residential burglaries.
The force said it was recording around 1,500 residential burglaries per calendar month before Operation Castle launched, and has since seen a consistent downward trend to around 650 per month by June 2026.
Greater Manchester Police has published advice on keeping properties secure on its website.