Local knowledge helped police catch a shop thief who was recognised from a doorbell camera by an officer who then tracked him down.
Jake Boyton (35), of Spring Street, was arrested after a window at Coocumber in Victoria Street, Spalding was smashed on Thursday (June 5) at 9.20pm.
A search of the friend’s address he was found at revealed a blue, Regatta jacket which matched clothing worn by the man seen breaking glass in the shop door.
He was charged the following day and appeared before Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.
He admitted criminal damage at Coocumber and was ordered to pay £250 compensation. He also admitted a theft from Sainsbury’s in Lincoln on June 4 where he stole electric toothbrushes worth £95 as well as a theft from the Original Factory Shop on the same day. He took five pairs of trainer liners and a pair of men’s walking shoes.
He was ordered to pay compensation to match the value of the items. There is a compulsory reduction in benefits to recover the values ordered.
A police spokesman said, after the hearing, that local knowledge of the officers had played a ‘huge part’ in catching Boyton.
