Five gang members have been sentenced to over 25 years between them, after nearly 30 burglaries across the country.

The members were arrested when they were pursued in a police chase on January 6 in London and forced to stop on the A406.

Detective Constable Paul Cullinan of Hertfordshire’s Specialist Investigation Team took over the investigation as the gang were held in custody.

Over the months it was discovered the Chilean gang conspired burglaries to 29 addresses in areas including Rickmansworth, Elstree and other areas in Hertfordshire, London, Surrey, Cambridgeshire, and Bedfordshire.

It was found the burglars mainly targeted large houses to steal jewellery.

Some of the stolen jewellery were recovered during the arrest, and large hauls of jewellery were also recovered from a river in Walthamstow.

Hertfordshire Constabulary say much of the items found were returned to the rightful owners.

All five appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday (August 18), after previously pleading guilty.

DC Cullinan said: “We’re delighted these men have been taken off the streets and will no longer pose a threat to our communities.

“These men had been in the country for only a matter of months and appeared to have immediately started targeting affluent homes in order to steal jewellery.

“The issue of ‘crime tourism’ is recognised by the police, and we work extremely hard to bring those responsible to justice.”

The gang members were sentenced as follows:

• Alexis Castro, aged 38, of no fixed abode, was jailed for five years six months.

• Christian Rubio, aged 39, of no fixed abode was jailed for five years.

• Carlos Aranis, aged 31, of no fixed abode, was jailed for five years.

• Mario Fernandez-Garrido, aged 34, of no fixed abode, was jailed for four years ten months.

• Sergio Saravia, aged 38, of no fixed abode, was jailed for five years nine months.