TRIANGLE BURGLAR GETS TWO YEARS – admits 18 offences in Croydon and Bromley boroughs
A burglar who went on a crime spree in Bromley and Croydon over the summer committing 18 burglaries has been jailed for two years.
Among the burglaries he committed were several at shops and restaurants in and around Westow Street and the Crystal Palace Triangle area in August.
The 32-year-old man also targeted a number of schools, burgling two Harris Academy schools in Beckenham and South Norwood; Cypress junior school in South Norwood, the Phil Edwards centre in Upper Norwood and The Ravensbourne school in Hayes Lane, Bromley.
He was identified and arrested on 19 August after he was forensically linked to a burglary at the Salvation Army building in Ethelbert Road, Bromley on 30 July. At the time he was arrested the man was also linked to five other burglaries, either through forensic evidence or CCTV footage.
He was charged in connection with the six burglaries later that day. But detectives carried out further enquiries and, coupled with forensic results and CCTV footage from other burglaries in the area, he was eventually charged with a total of 18 non-residential burglaries.
The crime spree began on 7 July after a break-in was reported at Crystal Palace FC’s Selhurst Park, where alcohol had been stolen from a catering box. He continued up until 19 August and he mainly stole cash or electrical items, such as laptops, DVD players or cameras during the burglaries.
The man. of no fixed abode, was sentenced to two years imprisonment at Croydon Crown Court on 29 October, after he admitted being responsible for 18 non-residential burglaries across Bromley and Croydon between 7 July and 19 August.
Det.Con Drew Dunmill, one of the officers from the Croydon – based Forensic Conversion Team which carried out the investigation – said: “He targeted shops, business premises and schools over the summer months and along with the value of the goods or cash that he stole, he also caused several thousand pounds worth of damage to the premises.
“He was extremely prolific and was responsible for a big proportion of non-residential burglaries in the Bromley and Croydon area over the summer.
“A number of my colleagues worked on this case and thanks to their efforts he was convicted of 18 burglaries and will be behind bars for a considerable period, which will be reassuring for the local community and those affected.” (Source: Metropolitan Police press release)
FURTHER READING: BURGLARS ACROSS SOUTH LONDON TARGETED (NFCP October 31st )
Burglars across South London are being targeted as the police launch a burglary initiative to coincide with the shortening days – in conjunction with a campaign to remind residents that there are simple measures that they can take to reduce the risk of being a target for burglars.
