A serial burglar responsible for a cross-country crime wave, during which he stole five cash machines and seven vehicles, has been jailed for seven years and six months.
A Nationwide Crime Spree
Tony Smith, 26, from Cambridgeshire, embarked on a burglary series across England between May 24 and July 9 this year. His criminal activities targeted businesses in multiple counties, including Dorset, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire.
Smith's arrest in July came after officers from Leicestershire Police identified him as the prime suspect following a spate of local burglaries. Subsequent detective work connected him to a string of similar offences nationwide.
At Loughborough Crown Court on Friday, November 21, Smith pleaded guilty to a total of 16 offences. His criminal haul was substantial and included:
- Five stolen ATMs
- Seven stolen vehicles
- Two sets of car keys
- Crane straps and lifting straps
He also made two further unsuccessful attempts to steal additional ATM machines.
The Ram-Raid Method and Its Impact
Smith's primary method was a brazen ram-raid style attack on small supermarkets, often Co-op stores. A notable incident occurred on July 9 at a Co-op in Whetstone, Leicester, where he smashed a window and damaged a shutter to escape with the ATM.
Similar thefts were carried out at Co-op stores in Leicester, Ludlow, and Christchurch. Detective Constable Vicki Morris from the force's Complex Investigation Team explained the operation's mechanics.
'The usual method carried out to commit these crimes was to target small supermarkets and steal the ATM machines via a ram raid style method,' she said. 'In the majority of these offences, the vehicles used were stolen and on false number plates.'
The financial toll on the targeted businesses ran into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, a figure that included not just the stolen goods and damaged property but also significant loss of trade during repairs.
Collaborative Police Work Brings Justice
Detective Constable Morris praised the multi-force effort that led to Smith's conviction. 'I would like to thank all the forces involved in assisting us bringing these charges against Smith,' she stated. 'This collaborative effort has resulted in putting Smith before the courts to face the consequences and a lengthy prison sentence.'
Echoing this sentiment, Detective Constable Liam Moss of Dorset County CID, where several offences took place, commended the victims for their support. 'I want to thank the victims who have supplied evidence and supported our investigation for their help in holding Tony Smith to account for his offending,' he said.
The successful prosecution and substantial sentence mark the end of a damaging crime spree and highlight the effectiveness of inter-force police collaboration in tackling serial offending.
