Brothers had £390 in distraction theft
A man distracted a shop assistant behind the counter while his brother slipped into a store room and pocketed hundreds of pounds from a safe.
Patrick Maughan, 41, and his brother, Anthony Maughan, 34, carried out the distraction burglary at Nottage Stores in Porthcawl and made off with nearly £400.
The incident occurred at the shop in Heol-Y-Capel, Nottage, just after noon on March 7, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Owner James Hill left the shop at lunchtime and returned later that afternoon when an employee told him two men had been behaving suspiciously.
Jason Howells, prosecuting, said Mr Hill went into the store room at the back of the shop and found the safe keys missing.
He checked his CCTV, which showed the defendants approaching the shop together at 12.15pm.
They went to the back of the store and Anthony Maughan could be seen gesturing to his brother. He was then caught on camera disappearing behind a newspaper stand and slipping through a “staff only” door.
Patrick Maughan then went to the front of the shop and looked at items in a display before queuing at the till.
Prosecutors said he looked “agitated” when he saw a member of the public approaching the back room.
Mr Howells told the court he “stalled” the shop assistant by fumbling with cash in his pocket and asking her what kind of batteries he could put in a remote control.
The CCTV showed Anthony Maughan going into the back room at 12.18pm and leaving again three minutes later.
Mr Hill had to call out a locksmith to get into the till, and found £390 in cash had been stolen, with receipts.
He contacted the police and the brothers were arrested on March 9 in Kenfig Hill.
Patrick Maughan was found to have £100 in cash and a wrap of amphetamine, while Anthony Maughan was caught with some cannabis.
Anthony Maughan admitted burglary and possessing cannabis. The judge described his criminal record as “appalling”.
He committed the new offences while on licence.
Rhodri Chudleigh, for Anthony Maughan, said his client had been addicted to heroin for a long time.
Patrick Maughan admitted burglary and possessing amphetamine. He was on a community order at the time of the new offences.
Robert Chudleigh said his client was the sole carer for his mother.
Judge Michael Fitton QC made an order for the cash to be handed over and the drugs to be destroyed.
Anthony Maughan was jailed for 22 months. Patrick Maughan was given a 12-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation activity.