Two crooks have been jailed for their involvement in a series of burglaries from homes and businesses across Thanet.
Officers on patrol in Margate arrested Ryan Fountain and Sam Crew on Tuesday, July 16 as part of their enquiries into a burglary which had been reported earlier that day.
As officers searched the property the pair had been found in, they recovered a number of items which had been reported stolen during various other burglaries.
It led to an investigation by Kent Police which found as many as 19 offences were linked to a group of thieves, including car thefts and burglaries at homes and businesses carried out in Thanet between June 24 and July 16.
At Canterbury Crown Court Fountain and Crew each admitted their involvement in some of the offences. The two 25-year-olds were sentenced oyesterday (November 6).
Fountain, of no fixed address, was sentenced to three years in prison, after he admitted six offences, including carrying out a burglary at a home in Margate Road, Ramsgate on July 10; being a passenger in a vehicle which had been reported stolen from St Michael’s Avenue in Margate on July 14 and fraudulent use of a stolen bank card.
Crew, of Arlington Gardens in Margate was given a custodial sentence of four years and three months after admitting five offences, including the burglary of a property in St Michael’s Avenue in Margate and aggravated vehicle-taking.
Both also admitted their part in the burglaries of three businesses on July 15, at a farm shop in Birchington; the Co-op store in Hopeville Avenue, Broadstairs and the newsagents in George Hill Road, Broadstairs.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Michael Kingwell of Kent Police said: “This was a complicated investigation due to the large number of potentially linked offences, each with their own body of evidence, and officers worked hard to unpick which offences Fountain and Crew were responsible for.
“We will continue to work to identify the other offenders involved with the aim of ensuring justice is done for the victims.
“As part of our campaign against burglary, we also want to encourage people to think about the safety of their own homes and what security measures they could take.
“Ensure doors and windows are secure, consider installing a safe, make your home look occupied if you go out and use security lighting and CCTV.
“Don’t give burglars the chance to target your home.”
More advice to protect your home and belongings against burglars can be found here: https://www.kent.police.uk/police-forces/kent-police/areas/kent-police/campaigns/campaigns/2019/kent-against-burglary/