Burglar jailed for spate of shop thefts across Peterborough
A burglar who broke into a Peterborough store and stole hundreds of pounds of goods has been jailed for a spate of thefts.
Police say that Thomas Smiley (36) smashed the window of B&M, in Ortongate shopping centre and stole alcohol and laundry products.
Cambridgeshire police say the break-in on August 1 was part of a spree of burglaries across Peterborough between July 27 and August 19, where he stole more than £300 worth of items from Co-op, in Columbus Road, Hempstead; Tesco, in Napier Place, Orton Wistow; and Asda in Brotherhood Retail Park.
A police spokesperson said that Smiley was arrested by the police Spree offender team and charged with non-dwelling burglary and seven counts of theft from a shop.
Smiley, of Winyates, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison after he admitted the offences at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on August 25.
Afterwards, PC Jack Jenkins, from the Spree offender team, said: “Smiley’s actions significantly affected the shops he targeted, especially due to volume of goods stolen.
“Retail crime continues to be a priority for the team, and we will work with the retailers across the city to tackle it.”