Three brothers have been jailed after police linked them to a series of burglaries using a discarded vape found in a stolen car and fingerprints left on a CCTV camera.
Convictions at Liverpool Crown Court
Adam Goodier, 27, Liam Evans, 18, and Nathan Evans, 23, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, July 20, where they were sentenced for their roles in a series of burglaries across Merseyside and Cheshire.
Goodier and Liam Evans, both of no fixed address but from Haydock, admitted conspiring to steal a motor vehicle and two counts of conspiring to commit burglary between October 26 last year and January 11. They were linked to 36 burglary incidents across Haydock, St Helens, Widnes and Warrington.
Evidence from CCTV and a vape
Footage released by Merseyside Police showed the pair breaking into a building, dressed in tracksuits with reflective strips, before leaving through the same door. Detectives also found their fingerprints on a home CCTV camera at a property they had broken into, and a vape left behind in a stolen Nissan Micra.
In one incident in October last year, police received a report of two males attempting to start an Indian motorbike near Carr Mill Dam in St Helens. CCTV showed Goodier and Evans entering a garage, with one switching off the camera and leaving fingerprints on the device.
On December 20, the pair entered or attempted to enter premises in Haydock, stealing items including a car and Christmas presents. Despite damaging some CCTV cameras, detectives identified them from their distinctive clothing.
Arrest and sentencing
On January 11, a Ford Focus was stolen in Widnes and later involved in a crash. Cheshire Police arrested Goodier, Liam Evans and Nathan Evans nearby. Nathan Evans admitted one burglary offence and theft of a motor vehicle, receiving 20 months in prison. Liam Evans also pleaded guilty to stealing £38 worth of items from McColls on Fleet Lane in December, and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years at a youth offenders institution. Goodier was handed six years in prison.
Police statements
Detective Constable Charlie Harris, who led the investigation, said: "This was a complex investigation, and working with Cheshire Police we were able to establish that Adam Goodier and Liam Evans carried out the burglaries. We were able to link the pair to 36 burglaries and attempted burglaries - 13 in the St Helens area and 13 in Cheshire."
He added: "Although they wore face coverings, we were able to match the distinctive clothes they wore from the CCTV footage at the homes they targeted, along with forensic and video mobile phone and data pinning them to the locations. In addition, two videos linked them to the stolen Ford Focus they crashed which Nathan had recorded on his phone."
Detective Inspector Steven O'Neill said: "Although the offences crossed force boundaries between Merseyside and Cheshire, this wasn’t a barrier to catch those responsible. This strong relationship between neighbouring forces enabled detectives to bring Adam, Liam and Nathan before the court and brought to justice for their crimes."
PC Ian Harrison, from Cheshire Police, said: "This case demonstrates the excellent working relationship between Cheshire Police and Merseyside Police, especially when it comes to cross-border offences. I hope this acts as a reminder that if you commit crime anywhere in the country, there really is nowhere to hide."
