A Forest Gate man has been jailed after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary at schools across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.

Arron Tack, 19, of Clova Road, was part of an organised criminal group that had been charged following an intelligence-led operation which aimed to tackle the significant rise in burglaries at schools in Waltham Forest.

Tack was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment at Snaresbrook Crown Court earlier today.

Six other men from east London and Essex were imprisoned on Friday for conspiracy to commit burglary.

This includes: Richard Baker, 32, of Springhills, Harlow, who was sentenced to five years and three months, Danny Simpson, 32, of Silver Birch Avenue, Chingford, was sentenced to four years and 10 months, Imran Yousef, 32, of Edison Close, Walthamstow was sentenced to six years, Jason Hardcastle, 28, of Withy Mead, Chingford, was sentenced to three years and eight months, Ryan Greenhow, 20, of Mulberry Court, Langthorne Road, Leytonstone was sentenced to two years and nine months, and Alax Alabo, 31, of Larkshall Road, Chingford, was sentenced to five years.

The men targeted 20 schools in their aim to commit non-residential burglaries over a period of a year, between May 2013 and May 2014.

Some schools were repeatedly burgled across Waltham Forest, resulting in costs of nearly half a million pounds for damages and losses

The men were arrested after officers seized computer equipment and £8,000 in cash from Yousef’s home address.

A further warrant was executed at his business address, Platinum Computers in High Road, Leytonstone.

Over half of the equipment seized was found to have been stolen from schools in Waltham Forest.

Yousef was subsequently arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and later bailed pending further enquiries.

Extensive enquiries were conducted by Waltham Forest’s Proactive Unit, leading to the arrest of a further six men.

Superintendent Phillip Langworthy, from Waltham Forest borough, said: “The proactive operation used several police tactics leading to the handler being identified and arrested.

“My team then worked hard to identify those committing the burglaries. These sentences will ensure these men will not be setting foot in Waltham Forest or any other area for some time.

“I would really like to emphasise to residents, schools and businesses that property marking is essential to identify property and return it to the rightful owner.

“We recovered property that took painstaking enquiries to identify and something as simple as an address in a UV pen easily identified some owners.”

For further information about property marking contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods team.