Burglar who stole tools worth thousands from Halfords in Peterborough jailed
A burglar has been jailed after he was caught red-handed stealing tools worth thousands of pounds from a branch of Halfords in Peterborough, police have said.
Cambridgeshire Police said that Nadeem Atwell, 37, broke into the shop in Mallory Road, Boongate, with an accomplice in the early hours of 21 December 2024, activating an alarm in the process.
When officers attended, Atwell ran while the other man was arrested.
Atwell was cornered but he managed to get away after a struggle.
Police said that despite his getaway, he was quickly identified from CCTV footage and arrested the following day.
An investigation found 20 socket sets, with a retail value of £8,800, were stolen during the burglary.
A court heard how three days before the burglary Atwell, of East Road, Cambridge, went to the BP garage in Bretton Way, where he stole three bottles of wine.
Cambridgeshire Police said that Atwell denied burglary, possessing a firearm with intent and administering a noxious thing, but he was found guilty following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court in March.
He admitted the additional count of theft from a shop.
On Thursday (14 May) at the same court he was jailed for three years.
PC Levi Peynado, from Cambridgeshire Police, welcomed the sentence handed out at court.
He said said: “Atwell thought he had escaped justice by getting away from officers at the scene, but he was swiftly identified and apprehended.
“I’m pleased he has now appeared in court and been jailed for his crimes.”