Bungling dad and son burglars rumbled by police in middle of crime

A bungling burglar duo was rumbled by police in the middle of committing their crime. Dad and son Joseph and Paddy Rooney’s attempt to break in and make off with stolen goods was beset with disaster from the start, when the homeowner heard them outside. The thieving pair then smashed a downstairs window to get in, with the concerned resident running out the front door and calling 999.

Police arrived at the house in Newlyn Gardens, Aspley, in Nottinghamshire minutes later and immediately spotted two people moving around the property. Realising they’d been rumbled, the duo tried to make a run for it but didn’t get far before they were detained outside and searched. The two Rooneys were then made to turn out their pockets, which were revealed to be filled with jewellery that they’d stolen moments earlier.

Both men were then led away from the scene in handcuffs, at which point Paddy Rooney, 19, shouted racial abuse at people in attendance. Following the night-time incident on September 4, 2023, the father and son were charged with burglary, while Paddy was also charged with a racially aggravated public order offence. Having pleaded guilty to their respective offences, both men appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on December 7 for sentencing.

Joseph Rooney, 42, of HMP Nottingham, was jailed for three years. Paddy Rooney, of Hobbys Paddock, Bentley, Doncaster, was sentenced to 15 months in a young offenders’ institution, suspended for two years. He was also made to complete 35 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 80 hours of unpaid work, and placed on tag for two months.

Detective Constable Andre Foster, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Joseph and Paddy Rooney had absolutely no right to be where they were that night but clearly thought they were above the law. Burglary is an incredibly invasive crime and this must’ve been a very distressing experience for the victim, who did the right thing by getting themselves to safety and calling the police. “Thankfully, our officers were able to arrive at the scene within minutes and catch both men in the act before they could make off with the items they’d stolen.

I’m pleased to see that both father and son have now appeared in court and have owned up to what they did that night.”