A gang of burglars who targeted premises across the county stashed their swag in a ‘secret room’.
Police found thousands of pounds of goods stolen from B & M Bargains when they raided Carl Cumberland’s home on Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle.
Detectives said the room was constructed with a fake partition wall within the back bedroom and contained items lifted from the bargain chain store.
The gang, who plotted a major burglary conspiracy at mosques and businesses across Lancashire, were this week jailed for a total of more than 22 years.
They targeted a number of shops, restaurants, businesses and mosques in Accrington, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Burnley, Colne and Preston between February 2011 and September 2012.
At Preston Crown Court this week Carl Cumberland, 31, was jailed for two years and 10 months for his involvement in the burglaries.
His brothers Liam Cumberland, 27, of Lytham Road, and Sean Cumberland, 32, of Accrington Road, both Blackburn, were jailed for five years.
All three brothers had admitted conspiracy to commit burglary and Sean also admitted possession of cannabis.
Daniel Darani, 31, Darren Jeal, 42, James O’Neil, 30, and Stuart Ainsworth, 40, also admitted conspiracy to commit burglary.
Jeal, of Eldon Road, Blackburn – who also admitted possession of cannabis – was sentenced to four years in jail.
Darani, of Douglas Place, Blackburn, was given three years four months.
And O’Neil, of South Street, Darwen, was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.
Shaun Lever, 43, of Windsor Road, Knuzden, was given a two-year supervision order after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods.
Ronald Straeker, 51, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to two years and three months after pleading guilty to one burglary, one theft and an offence of handling stolen goods.
The sentencing of Ainsworth, of Shaw Street, Blackburn, was adjourned until Monday, July 8 as the defendant was in hospital suffering from heart problems.
