Man stole £8k of jewellery from Gatwick hotel room

A man who stole £8,000 of jewellery in an "opportunistic" burglary from a Gatwick hotel room has been given an eight-month suspended sentence.

Mohammed Uddin, 39, admitted burglary and receiving stolen goods after the theft at the Hilton Hotel at Gatwick's South Terminal on 17 August 2024.

Sussex Police said a family staying in two adjoining rooms reported a bag missing after one door was left on the latch while luggage was being brought in.

Sgt Lenal Patel said: "We understand the impact of burglary, both financially and the emotional distress it causes victims. The crime was opportunistic, but the victim impact will likely be long-lasting."

Officers said the bag was taken within a 10‑minute window between 21:35 and 21:45.

Police worked with the Metropolitan Police to locate Uddin in London, where he was found wearing several stolen pieces of jewellery and in possession of a bank card belonging to another victim.

Uddin had been staying in the same hotel as the victims on the evening of the theft, police said.

He was charged with burglary and receiving stolen goods and sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.

Uddin was also ordered to comply with an electronically monitored curfew for six months and to pay £300 in compensation.

Sgt Patel said she was pleased that a number of items were recovered and thanked the Met Police for their "collaboration" in bringing the offender to justice.

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