A burglar was caught red handed trying to flee the country by boarding a ferry to Ireland. Gary King, 43, of no fixed address, was added to the most wanted section of the Kent Police website after being linked to two burglaries and an attempted burglary in Canterbury earlier this year.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, CCTV footage captured King walking up a driveway on Beaconsfield Road, where he was seen trying the handles of two cars and attempting to enter a house. After failing to gain access, he proceeded to a property on Shaftesbury Avenue.
A woman reported waking to find a man - later identified as King - bent over her desk. He fled the scene with her Apple Watch.
In a separate incident, on the same night, another victim returned to their home on Beaconsfield Road to find King inside the bedroom. When confronted, King fled the property empty-handed.
Officers reviewed CCTV footage and identified King as the suspect and an appeal was issued to locate him.
On April 15 2025, King was detained by security staff at Holyhead Port in Wales while attempting to board a ferry to Ireland. He was returned to Kent and charged with two counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary.
He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to three years in prison on May 19 2025 at Canterbury Crown Court.
Detective Constable Rosalynd Friend said: "King committed multiple offences in a short period, showing no regard for the distress caused to his victims.
"I’m pleased he has now been taken off the streets. His case serves as a warning to others - if you attempt to flee justice, you will be caught."
