They would knock on the door in the guise of looking at a car for sale – and if no-one was home they would strip the house of valuables.

A sophisticated group of criminals targeted wealthy Wellington suburbs in a series of audacious daylight burglaries.

After they were caught they threatened the children of police officers.

Two of the group were sentenced in Wellington District Court yesterday.

The gang staked out houses, often while the occupants were at work, before sending a well-dressed "door-knocker" to check if anyone was home.

Empty homes were stripped of valuables, including high-end electronics, jewellery, and laptops.

Suburbs targeted included Ngaio, Khandallah and Eastbourne, and the group burgled 14 homes from September to November 2010, Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Dunn said.

Police used toughened anti-gang laws to charge seven men with participating in an organised criminal group, which carries a maximum 10-year jail term.

"They would collate a list of properties that were worth targeting and they would use walkie-talkies. They would approach the house – one of them would be dressed reasonably smart – the others would be secreted somewhere else.

"They would go and knock on the door and if somebody answered the door they had a plausible excuse as to why they were there," Mr Dunn said.

Nineteen men were arrested in November 2010 when more than 60 officers, including the armed offenders squad, raided properties in 10 Wellington suburbs, seizing four stolen cars and a motorbike, 10 cannabis plants, 300 shotgun rounds, and hundreds of other items – including a $1300 Louis Vuitton wallet.

"We filled a room with stolen property," Mr Dunn said. The value of the stolen property was more than $100,000.

During the investigation the group intimidated witnesses and even had the "audacity" to intimidate police, Mr Dunn said.

"We had instances of witnesses turning up at court and then disappearing and witnesses not coming to court.

"They would turn up outside police officers' addresses and they would make suggestions they knew which school the police officers' children were going to."

The two sentenced yesterday were Ella Ratu, 27, and Ross McPhee, 21.

They had pleaded guilty to charges including participating in an organised criminal group, burglary, and receiving stolen goods.

Judge Denys Barry said burglary victims had reported feeling unsafe in their own homes, while many lost irrepealable heirlooms and keepsakes.

Ratu was remorseful, and trying to start a new life, the court was told.

McPhee is the son of murder victim Allison McPhee, found beaten to death in 2010.

His upbringing was "permeated by tragedy and disadvantage", Judge Barry said.

Ratu was sentenced to two years and seven months jail, and ordered to pay reparations of $7000.

McPhee was sentenced to two years and four months in jail, and ordered to pay reparations of $425.

Tim Hill was previously sentenced to 12 months' home detention and ordered to pay $10,000 after an early guilty plea.

Four more people are waiting to be sentenced.