Burglar jailed after crime spree in Peterborough ended when caught behind wheel of stolen car

Cambridgeshire police say that Luke Edwards (37) had to be forcibly restrained by officers when they discovered him sitting in the driver’s seat of a grey Vauxhall Astra that he had stolen two hours earlier.

A police spokesperson said: “Edwards went to a property in Enfield Gardens, in Netherton, where he stole keys for a grey Vauxhall Astra and drove the vehicle away.

"Two hours later officers found the car parked in Russell Street, Millfield, with Edwards sitting in the driver’s seat.

"He resisted officers, forcing them to use their incapacitant spray, and was arrested.”

Police say the incident happened in the early hours of March 1 and was the culmination of weeks of criminal offences by Edwards in Peterborough.

Edwards, of Essendyke, Bretton, Peterborough, was jailed for 52 months at Cambridge Crown Court on May 29 after admitting two counts of theft from a motor vehicle, two of fraud, two of burglary, interference with a motor vehicle and breaching a criminal behaviour order.

Detailing the other offences, a police spokesperson said: “Edwards and an accomplice tried car door handles in Oxclose, Bretton, before getting into an unlocked van on January 14.

“They were disturbed and briefly left the area empty-handed, but returned and broke into a Skoda Superb, stealing a small amount of cash, an air freshener and a bottle of aftershave.

“On February 12, Edwards broke into a van that was parked near Peterborough Cathedral, stealing a bank card and a pair of designer trainers.

“A short time later, the victim received notifications that his card had been used to make multiple transactions in the city centre.

“The day before, Edwards had also used another stolen bank card and was captured on CCTV trying multiple car door handles in New England, a breach of a criminal behaviour order he had received at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court in October.

“On February 18 he also stole a bicycle from a shed in Langley, Bretton.”

Afterwards, DC Hannah Worthington said: “Edwards was relentless, seemingly with little thought to the impact his crimes were having on other people.

“I’m pleased he was identified, admitted these offences and has now been jailed.”