Burglar jailed after £100k crime spree
A PROLIFIC burglar who stole a £41,000 Land Rover used to transport disabled customers around the Zip World attraction has been jailed.
Simon Lee McAllister was locked up for 40 months after he pleaded guilty to four charges of burglary and four of theft, with the total worth of his stealing calculated at more than £100,000.
The 45-year-old smashed a window to gain entry to an office at Zip World, Bethesda, on September 8, 2015, where he stole keys, cash, a phone and toolbox to the value of £1,200.
On the same day, he burgled three businesses in Blaenau Ffestiniog – Zip World Titan, where he stole cameras, walkie talkies, a computer and cash worth £4,453, the nearby U-Star building where he took cameras worth £47,500, and the Llechwedd Emporium where he stole goods worth £660.
On July 15 2016, McAllister stole tools valued at £1,100 from a van belonging to a customer at O H Griffiths garage at Y Ffor, near Pwllheli, and stole a CD player from the garage’s Ford Fiesta courtesy car. On September 8 that year, CCTV footage showed him being “dropped off” at the same garage before stealing the Fiesta.
Prosecutor Richard Edwards said the car was found at McAllister’s home in Maes Geraint, Pentraeth, with false number plates.
While on bail, McAllister twice stole clothing from a Sport Direct store in Bangor.
Jonathan Austin, defending, said McAllister was “not a well person”, suffered from epilepsy and had mental health issues.
Judge Niclas Parry told Caernarfon Crown Court that McAllister had an “appalling” criminal record of 32 convictions for 126 offences, and was part of a group who had targeted businesses.
Speaking after the hearing yesterday, PC Carwyn ap Tomos, of Gwynedd CID, said: “McAllister is a prolific offender and I hope his imprisonment provides our communities with reassurance that all offenders will be pursued, caught and placed before the courts.
“The community is a better place now he’s behind bars.”