DARTFORD, U.K. — David Buisson, 56, of Malkin Drive, Harlow, has been sentenced to six years and one month in prison for conspiring to commit burglary, following a high-profile theft of 159 luxury watches valued at £1.4 million from Bluewater shopping centre.
On the evening of February 7, Buisson traveled to Bluewater in a Mercedes GLA with cloned number plates, accompanied by a criminal associate, according to Kent Police.
Shortly after 7 p.m., Buisson, wearing a facemask, used a telescopic ladder to access the shopping centre’s roof and cut a hole in the ceiling to break inside, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reported.
He bypassed multiple security measures to reach a secure area, where he stole more than 150 watches from a safe before escaping to a nearby car park.
An alarm sounded during the burglary, prompting staff to notify Kent Police immediately.
Despite the cloned plates, detectives tracked Buisson’s movements and the getaway car through CCTV footage and mobile data. This led to his arrest on February 12 in Cumbria, where police found stolen watches and a camcorder in his Vauxhall Corsa.
Stephen Smitherman, another suspect arrested with stolen watches in his possession, died while on remand.
Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Holly Morton stated, “David Buisson went through enormous effort to carry out a premeditated burglary causing significant financial loss. His sentencing sends a clear message that elaborate crimes will be met with robust law enforcement and prosecution.”
