Police urges anyone with information about Kerrigan’s whereabouts to come forward. Pic: Met Police

Police have renewed an appeal for absconded burglar Peter Kerrigan, who has been on the run for the past 15 months.

Kerrigan, 28, was being escorted out of the John Howard Centre in Hackney when he threatened a member of staff and ran away on March 29, 2015. Kerrigan has been on the run ever since.

Kerrigan was sentenced to six years in prison in 2010 after a series of burglaries. He targeted the elderly and vulnerable by impersonating a police officer to enter their homes and steal from them.

Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, from Hackney CID and also leader of the investigation, said: “It has now been 15 months since Kerrigan absconded after he was jailed for committing these despicable crimes. The oldest victim he targeted was a 92-year-old woman who was asleep in her bed. She was left terrified by the masked intruder.

“Another elderly female who was 89-years-old at the time of the offence, described how Kerrigan ransacked her bedroom and stole personal effects as she was powerless to stop him. She was deeply traumatised for a long time afterwards. It is imperative that he is found before he ruins other people’s lives.”

Kerrigan started the spate of burglaries just weeks after being released early from an eight-year sentence imposed in 2005, when he was just 17 years old.

The latest appeal was launched on June 10 when the BBC’s Crimewatch Roadshow programme featured Kerrigan’s crimes.

Th John Howard Centre in Hackney where Kerrigan escaped from. Pic: Hackney Gazette

Crimestoppers have announced a £1000 reward for anyone with information leading to Kerrigan’s arrest.

Kerrigan could be anywhere — nonetheless Police says he has links across the country including in Maidstone, Sussex, Peterborough, Lincolnshire and Leicester. He is also known to visit some areas in London, including Hackney.

He still has friends and family living in Ireland.

Detective Inspector Ridley added: “Anyone who knows of Kerrigan’s whereabouts or may be harbouring him, I would urge them to think about the damage Kerrigan has done to his defenceless victims and ask them to contact police. Several of his victims have now died, unfortunately without seeing Kerrigan face the consequences of his actions.

“I can personally assure you that all information received will be treated in the strictest of confidence.”

Anyone with any information on Kerrigan and his whereabouts should immediately call 999 or, alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on their website: www.crimestoppers-uk.org.