A career criminal who masterminded a brazen £1.4 million heist at a major shopping centre has been jailed for over six years.
A meticulously planned burglary at Bluewater shopping centre saw 56-year-old David Buisson, from Malkin Drive, Harlow, make off with 159 high-end watches after breaking through the roof of the complex.
On 7 February, Buisson drove a Mercedes GLA with cloned number plates to the Dartford retail giant alongside an accomplice, in what Kent Police have described as a “sophisticated and calculated operation”.
A six-figure haul. A rooftop break-in. A bold, cinematic crime undone by digital trails and cold, hard evidence.
Brazen Rooftop Break-In
Just after 7pm, Buisson, concealed behind a face mask, scaled the building using a telescopic ladder and cut through the shopping centre’s ceiling to gain access.
Once inside, he navigated his way to a secure area, bypassing multiple layers of security before breaking into a safe containing over 150 luxury watches. Without wasting time, he made his way back to the getaway car waiting in a nearby car park.
But while he may have outwitted the physical barriers, he failed to avoid modern surveillance.
An alarm was triggered during the burglary, prompting staff to immediately notify Kent Police.
CCTV and Mobile Data Crack the Case
Despite the use of cloned plates to obscure their trail, investigators were able to piece together Buisson’s movements using CCTV footage and mobile phone data. Their meticulous work led them to a Vauxhall Corsa registered to Buisson.
He was located and arrested five days later in Cumbria. Inside his car, officers uncovered a camcorder and a bag filled with stolen watches.
One Dead, One Behind Bars
A second man, Stephen Smitherman, was also arrested on the same day. Police found three of the stolen watches in his possession. However, he died while on remand, bringing an abrupt end to his part in the case.
‘No Matter How Sophisticated, Justice Will Prevail’
At Maidstone Crown Court, Buisson admitted to conspiring to commit burglary and was sentenced to six years and one month in prison.
Holly Morton, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: “David Buisson went through enormous effort to carry out a premeditated burglary that caused significant financial loss to a local business.
His sentencing sends a clear message that no matter how sophisticated your methods or elaborate your planning, criminals will be robustly pursued by law enforcement, prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service, and brought to justice.”
Burglary Trends and Security Insights
Cases like Buisson’s are a growing concern for high-end retailers. According to recent figures from UK retail crime reports, organised theft involving advanced tools and planning is on the rise, especially in shopping centres with high footfall and high-value merchandise.
Security experts now advise retailers to invest not just in physical deterrents but in forensic marking, smart safes, and AI-enhanced surveillance systems capable of recognising suspicious activity in real-time.
The Bluewater incident serves as a stark reminder that even the most carefully executed plans can unravel with one misstep and that law enforcement’s reach is longer than ever in the digital age.
