BURGLAR JAILED

A burglar has been jailed after taking an estimated £300,000-worth of copper from a factory in Tamworth.

Shaun Smith, 35, of Wolverhampton, is now in prison after we found his DNA at the scene of the crime when it happened in September 2022. He was sentenced to three-years-and-two-months at Stafford Crown Court yesterday (Thursday 6 August) after he admitted burglary dwelling and theft.

CCTV from the scene shows Smith working with other unknown individuals to load copper from inside the factory onto the back of a truck which was parked nearby.   

We went to the scene and carried out forensic testing, where Smith’s DNA came back on several occasions.

Faced with the mounting evidence, we left Smith little choice but to admit his crime in court and face prison time.

Detective Sergeant Claire Rider, from our criminal investigations department, said: “Theft of this magnitude can have far reaching consequences for businesses, staff and the livelihoods of those involved.

“We are using all of the tools at our disposal to go after those responsible for these crimes in Staffordshire.”