Two members of a jewellery burglary gang have been jailed after CCTV caught the vehicle they used to escape.

Gabriel Zaharia, Gheorghe Ciobotaru and Valentin Ciobotaru travelled to Sevenoaks in a silver Mercedes to commit the crimes earlier this year.

On February 5 the trio forced a window open in Hillydeal Road, but left the home empty-handed.

On the same day they targeted two address in Shoreham Lane, Sevenoaks, and one in Leyton Cross Road, Dartford, as well as a fourth in Summerhouse Drive, Bexley.

After trashing the victim's homes they stole a quantity of jewellery.

But after detectives from the chief constable’s crime squad examined CCTV footage near the scenes they were able to identify the vehicle the offenders had used.

Their enquiries led them to arrest all three in the Mercedes as they travelled through Ilford, Greater London on February 9.

'They gave no thought for the impact their heartless actions...'

The investigation also proved that the suspects were responsible for two burglaries at Garden Way and Spring Grove, Loughton, Essex, earlier in the month.

All three men, all of no fixed address, were later charged with six burglaries and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court on March 17.

On Thursday , Gabriel Zaharia, aged 30, and Valentin Ciobotaru, aged 34, were both jailed for five years and three months.

Gheorghe Ciobotaru, aged 42, is due to be sentenced on Wednesday, September 7.

Detective Constable Dan Bister said: "This criminal gang travelled between Kent and Essex leaving a trail of destruction as they forced their way into houses and searched for jewellery.

"They gave no thought for the impact their heartless actions would have on the victims, some of whom lost jewellery of significant sentimental value.

"Kent and Essex will be a much safer place while two of the criminals start serving their prison sentences and the third remains remanded in custody."