TWO teams of burglars who posed as undercover cops to steal from around 100 homes have been jailed.

Six people were sentenced for a spate of crimes across the country, around half of which were in west London, including Harrow and Brent.

The two groups tricked their way into their victims' houses by pretending to be plain clothes police, but were caught after detectives carried out an undercover operation.

A special task force was set up using officers from across several London boroughs to catch the culprits.

Detective Chief Superintendent Julian Worker, of the Met, said: “By using our expertise and working together with our colleagues, we have taken two very active burglary teams off the streets.

“These sentences are the result of detailed and experienced investigative work by all of the agencies involved, based upon the limited information given by vulnerable victims.

“These convictions are truly the result of dedicated and tireless police work which clearly shows that these types of crimes are unacceptable.”

The first team, all from Hayes, was arrested in a hotel in South Yorkshire on April 28, and jailed on Friday, at Newcastle Crown Court, after pleading guilty on December 17.

James Hanrahan, 39, from Hayes, was jailed for five years for one count of distraction burglary.

Miles Connors, 37, from Hayes, got nine years for 20 counts of conspiracy to commit distraction burglary between December 22, 2009, and April 28, 2010.

Patrick Connors, 18, of Princess Park Lane, Hayes, was handed a seven-year sentence for 11 counts over the same period.

The second team was so determined to avoid capture, the men rammed police cars in an effort to escape along the eastbound A40, in Hillingdon, on June 10.

They were sentenced on Friday, January 14.

Michael Murphy, 19, from Reading, was sentenced to five years for numerous counts of conspiracy to commit distraction burglary between February 10 and June 10, 2010.

Thomas Reynolds, 26, from Newbury, was handed a five-and-a-half year sentence for numerous counts of conspiracy to commit distraction burglaries over the same period.

Felix Rooney, 22, from Newbury, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for similar offences over the same period.