A THIEF from Stratford has been jailed after being spotted breaking into a car by a quick-witted CCTV operator.
John Lewis, of Alcester Road, Stratford was seen breaking into a car in Bridgeway Car Park on the evening of September 24.
The CCTV operator from Stratford District Council (SDC) contacted police who headed to the scene and caught sight of Lewis in Greenhill Street.
The 32-year-old fled but a short time later was discovered in Grove Road where he was arrested by officers.
The items stolen from the car had been dumped in a bin near the car park and these were seized by police. They also seized cannabis from Lewis.
Appearing at Coventry Magistrates’ court on September 26, Lewis was sentenced to ten weeks in prison after pleading guilty to theft from a motor vehicle and possession of cannabis.
PC Ethan Baggott said: “The quick actions of the CCTV operator and the prompt response by officers meant Lewis was identified and arrested within 15 minutes of breaking into the car. Hopefully this response will serve as a warning to other criminals.”
While SDC legal and community safety spokesperson, Coun Christopher Kettle, said: “Once again our excellent CCTV coverage and well-trained and dedicated operators have shown that when you commit a crime you can run but you cannot hide.
“CCTV is vital for reducing crime and the fear of crime across the district, helping to keep our residents safe. The recent up-grade programme has allowed us to provide high-quality images for evidential purposes, together with the continued diligence of our operators, which greatly assists our policing partners.”
