CAUGHT IN THE ACT
I used to be a burglar and stole £5 million worth of jewellery from people’s homes – here’s how I got caught
Watch the video to see Sophie Turner in action as jewel thief Joan Hannington
A FORMER jewellery thief, who stole £5 million worth of belongings from people's homes, has revealed how she finally got caught.
Sophie Turner has got viewers hooked to their screens with her performance as a notorious jewel thief in new ITV drama Joan.
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Joan Hannington, now 67, made millions back in the 80s by swallowing diamonds in jewellery shops, and by burgling country houses.
And now, Jennifer Gomez, who spent 10 years in prison for breaking into people's homes and stealing their gold jewellery and money, has shared her own story.
Jennifer revealed that she made millions from climbing through people's windows, and stealing their belongings.
She melted down the gold jewellery she stole into gold bars, and then sold the bars to collectors and dealers.
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"I did this for many years and I made a lot of money", she said in a video posted to her TikTok channel.
However, her luck finally ran out one day, after the police raided her house, acting on a "hunch".
Explaining how she finally got rumbled, Jennifer said that she used to melt down her gold at a local DIY store run by a "crooked" man.
She revealed that legally, you have to have a licence to be able to melt gold down, and have to ID everyone that wants to use your service, to make sure that the gold hasn't been stolen.
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However, the "crooked" owner of the shop, let her melt down the gold without ID'ing her, in return for a small cut of her earnings.
I was too pretty for prison - I had my uniforms altered so I looked better & don’t care if it sounds vain, but my cellmates were jealous of me
Jennifer managed to use this man's services for years, but it turned out that his shop was being surveyed by the police, for other "crooked things" that he was going.
Eventually, the police became suspicious of Jennifer, as they saw her coming in and out of the shop every week, without seeming to buy anything.
When the police arrested the shop owner, and investigated him about the other "crooked" things he had been up to, he ratted on Jennifer and told them she had been using his machine to melt down gold.
How to protect your home from burglars
- Install a home security system:
- Consider alarms, CCTV cameras, and smart doorbells.
- Choose systems that allow remote monitoring via smartphone.
- Secure doors and windows:
- Ensure all doors and windows have robust locks.
- Use deadbolts and window locks for added security.
- Consider installing a peephole or door chain.
- Improve outdoor lighting:
- Install motion-sensor lights around your property.
- Ensure pathways, driveways, and entrances are well-lit.
- Maintain your garden:
- Keep hedges and shrubs trimmed to eliminate hiding spots.
- Store tools and ladders securely to prevent their use in break-ins.
- Use timers for lights:
- Set timers to turn lights on and off to give the impression someone is home.
- Consider using smart plugs to control appliances remotely.
- Secure garages and sheds:
- Ensure these areas are locked with strong padlocks.
- Store valuable items out of sight.
- Get to know your neighbours:
- Join or form a neighbourhood watch scheme.
- Encourage neighbours to keep an eye on each other's properties.
- Be cautious with social media:
- Avoid posting holiday plans or location updates online.
- Ensure privacy settings are secure to limit who can see your posts.
- Mark valuables with a UV pen:
- Use a UV pen to mark valuables with your postcode and house number.
- Register items with a property database for easier recovery if stolen.
- Consider installing a safe:
- Use a safe to store important documents and valuable items.
- Ensure the safe is securely bolted to the floor or wall.
- Review your home insurance:
- Check that your home insurance policy is up to date.
- Ensure it covers the value of your possessions.
- Conduct regular security checks:
- Periodically review and update your home security measures.
- Ensure all systems and locks are in good working order.
She explained that when she used to commit burglaries, she would use a fake number plate so that she didn't get caught, but when she went to the gold shop, she used her real number plate, so the police had her details, and were able to track her down.
They followed Jennifer to her boyfriend's house, and although they found nothing inside, were eventually able to find a stolen necklace in her car, as well as her fake number plates.
"That necklace is what sunk me", she said.
"So I went off to prison for 10 years, pregnant with my first and only child."
Jennifer's () has likely left many people open-mouthed, as it has racked up over 2.9 million views on the video sharing platform.
TikTok users raced to the video's comments section to share their thoughts.
One person said: "I could not listen to this because this happened to me, all my jewellery was stolen.
"Till this day it hurts. The personal damage is unforgivable."
A second person said: "That’s wild … we need a movie of your life …."
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A third person said: "What an interesting life you’ve lived."
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