A prolific burglar who targeted homes across Plymouth and East Cornwall, ‘stealing cash and priceless jewellery’, has been jailed for seven and a half years.
Greg Disbrey, 39, of Saltmill Close, Saltash, was sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court on Thursday 14 May after pleading guilty to eight burglaries.
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A further seven offences were also taken into consideration during sentencing.
Devon and Cornwall Police said Disbrey forced entry into homes during daylight hours, often by smashing doors and windows while residents were out for short periods of time.
Once inside, he stole gold jewellery and cash, with many victims losing items of huge sentimental value.
Police said several victims were elderly and in some cases Disbrey sprayed bleach and cleaning products throughout homes in an apparent attempt to destroy forensic evidence.
Officers said the damage left victims not only dealing with the loss of treasured possessions, but also having to clean contamination left inside their homes.
One burglary in November 2025 saw more than £10,000 worth of jewellery stolen from a property in Portway Close, Plymstock.
Detectives later identified a white van captured on CCTV near the scene. After detailed examination of the footage, officers traced the registration plate back to Disbrey.
A council worker later found suspicious property dumped in a car park at The Broadway in Plymstock.
The items were linked to one of the burglaries and CCTV again connected the same van to the area.
On 10 November 2025, another property on Plymstock Road was burgled.
Detectives linked the van to the scene and officers later stopped Disbrey while he was travelling back towards Cornwall.
Police searched the van and discovered a concealed compartment behind the driver’s seat containing jewellery and watches stolen from two burglaries.
Disbrey denied involvement during police interviews, claiming he had lent the van to another person.
However, detectives continued the investigation using CCTV, mobile phone data, financial investigations and transport records to connect him to further offences across Plymouth and East Cornwall.
ABOVE: Officers investigating burglaries across Plymouth and East Cornwall recovered stolen jewellery and reunited some treasured items with victims (Image: D&C Police)
Bus CCTV later captured Disbrey inside the garden of one burgled property as a bus passed by.
Police also discovered he regularly travelled to London after burglaries, visiting Hatton Garden jewellery businesses before depositing cash into his bank account.
Some stolen jewellery was eventually recovered from a jeweller in Plymouth and returned to victims in East Cornwall.
Detective Sergeant Paula Smith, from the Priority Crime Investigation Team, described the case as “an extremely challenging investigation”.
“The burglaries were often committed in quiet residential streets with limited or no CCTV coverage,” she said.
“There were no witnesses and, frustratingly, initially no suspects. Detectives pursued every available line of enquiry, often only to reach dead ends.”
She added: “Greg Disbrey caused significant distress to his victims and stole treasured family heirlooms that were both irreplaceable and of immense sentimental value.
“His offending was driven by a gambling addiction. Perhaps because that addiction had no obvious physical signs, he was able to hide in plain sight for a considerable period of time.”
DS Smith also praised the work of officers involved in the case and thanked victims and witnesses for their support during the lengthy investigation.
Devon and Cornwall Police are continuing to remind residents to secure doors and windows, report suspicious activity and keep valuables stored safely.
