‘She wants her daughter to feel she is safe in her own home. She wants to feel reassured that these people don’t know where they live and it was decided that could only happen if they move home’
18:56, 28 Jan 2026
A trio of burglars made a family feel so unsafe that they moved house and changed their car. Colombian nationals Sanchez Gustavo, Christian Fetiva Gamez and Rodrigo Albarracin broke into two south Wales homes in two days, targeting the properties for potential high-value items.
The three made off with more than £14,500 worth of items from just one of the properties, a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard on Wednesday. They were later arrested after their BMW was stopped by police officers in Wokingham, England, who discovered a stash of valuables in the boot.
Prosecutor Anisha Rai told judge Shomon Khan that the first incident took place on July 2, 2025, at a property in Cannon Walk, Llandough. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
Its married occupants arrived home to find a number of the rooms disturbed with cupboards and cabinets open. In the bedroom clothes had been removed from a packed suitcase, while the bed had been lifted open with an “untidy” search of its storage space undertaken.
Meanwhile two chests of drawers had been left open. The court heard how a side door had been left open and that this was likely the point of entry.
The couple reported that a number of the items stolen were “designer” and included jewellery such as bracelets, bags, watches, rings, necklaces and earrings.
However, an iPad and alcohol had been left behind. An estimated value of the items taken from this property was not provided, however it was heard that many of the items taken were later recovered by police.
The next day, on July 3, the three broke into a family home at Badgers Brook Close in Cowbridge. A female member of the family returned home at 2pm, after being out for around three hours, to find that several drawers and cupboards had been left open. She also noticed that the patio doors had been slid across so that they were half open.
When she went upstairs the woman noticed there had been an untidy search of the office and bedroom. She saw that a number of boxes under the bed used to store bags, shoes and belts had been emptied.
She estimated the total value of missing items to be around £14,545. It was heard that a number of these items were later recovered by officers, leaving around £3,325 worth of possessions still missing. Ms Rai read out a powerful victim impact statement from the woman, who described having ongoing fears for her family’s safety.
Ms Rai read: “She was initially in a state of shock but after a few days noticed she wasn’t able to continue with her daily routines. That was out of fear for her daughter.
“While she would normally tell her daughter she could wait at home after school she is now making sure she never leaves her alone out of fear she could be followed into the house or walk into the mess that she saw when the burglary took place.”
Ms Rai continued to tell the court that the impact on the family was so severe that they felt they had no alternative but to move home.
She said: “She wants her daughter to feel she is safe in her own home. She wants to feel reassured that these people don’t know where they live and it was decided that could only happen if they move home.
“They are all terribly sad that this is what it has come to. They have spent around £1,000 putting up CCTV cameras covering the entire house… They also sold their car, stating they need a more generic looking car.”
The three men were arrested on July 3 at around 6pm in Wokingham by Thames Valley Police officers who identified a BMW as having been linked to the burglary earlier that day. It was heard that the car had been seen in the locality of each address in the days prior.
A search of the vehicle took place which revealed a number of stolen items in its boot. Ms Rai said that Albarracin later told officers that he was in the car because his friend was taking him to a hospital appointment in London, while Fetiva Gamez and Gustavo also denied being involved. The three men later pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary at the pre-trial and preparation hearing.
Adam Sharp, defending Albarracin, 47, said his client had shown genuine remorse. He said Albarracin – of Commercial Street, New Tredegar, Caerphilly – had moved to the UK with an aspiration to have a better life, however he had fallen on hard times.
In his native Columbia he had been a skilled worker. Mr Sharp described his client’s behaviour as “out of character”. He added that Albarracin suffers from depression and had been sober for three years following an alcohol addiction.
Leah Pollard, defending Gamez Fetiva, 38, questioned whether the crime involved a “significant degree of planning” as suggested by the prosecution.
Instead she offered that there had been “some” degree of planning. She said that her client has no previous convictions but that he accepts that a “red notice” had been issued for him in France, and that he was convicted in his absence.
However, she said he has instructed lawyers to challenge this. She said Gamez Fetiva – of no fixed abode – is remorseful and understands that his actions have put his family at risk.
Thomas Stanway, defending Gustavo, said his client is 76-years-old with no previous convictions. He argued that his client is vulnerable and was taken advantage of. He said Gustavo – of no fixed abode – has poor mental and physical health and very low income.
Sentencing the three defendants Judge Shomon Khan said the case “makes clear” why home burglaries “are so serious”. He said: “It’s not just about value, these are people’s homes: where children live, where families should feel safe.”
He sentenced each defendant to two years and nine months in prison. He added that they are liable to automatic departure from the UK, which is a matter for the Home Office.
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