A man from Haringey has been sentenced to four years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to a series of fraud and burglary offenses across Surrey and London.
Vassim Aslam, 51, was convicted on 12 counts of burglary, one count of perverting the course of justice, and one count of going equipped. His criminal activities spanned from May to October 2023, during which residents in a block of flats in Woking noticed that their letters were going missing.
CCTV footage captured Aslam entering the building with master keys, opening letterboxes, and taking mail. He was later seen leaving the premises in a Vauxhall Zafira. Following an investigation, officers were able to link Aslam to these burglaries, leading to his arrest on November 23, 2023, in Walton High Street on suspicion of burglary.
Upon searching Aslam, police discovered a range of stolen items, including a fixed penalty notice, a Chelsea FC membership card, and several bank cards under different names. He was also found with £1,765 in cash. In his vehicle, authorities found further evidence of his criminal activities, including more stolen letters and bank cards from various addresses across Surrey and London, 18 tickets to Ascot and Newbury races, three phones, and numerous SIM cards.
A search of his home uncovered additional bank cards and letters not belonging to him.
Investigating officer, PC Iona King, commented, “We understand the significant impact that burglaries and fraud can have on our communities. The dedicated work of the team has led to the successful prosecution of Vassim Aslam and prevented further criminality in both Surrey and London.” PC Tom Hinch was particularly praised for his efforts in driving the investigation and identifying the scale of Aslam’s offenses.
Authorities also thanked the public for their assistance in providing crucial information that helped secure the case against Aslam.