No burglars caught in almost half of UK
POLICE have failed to solve a single burglary in neighbourhoods covering nearly half the country over the past three years, an investigation by The Daily Telegraph has found.
Of more than 32,000 neighbourhoods analysed, more than 14,000 (46 per cent) had seen all their burglary cases in the past three years closed with no suspect caught by police.
Almost 2,000 of the neighbourhoods – each containing around 3,000 residents – had recorded at least 25 burglaries but seen none solved. The worst, in Sheffield, had gone three years without any of its 104 burglaries being solved.
Despite the devastating impact break-ins can have on victims, burglary has not been regarded as a policing priority, with some forces no longer routinely dispatching an officer to investigate.
If there is no CCTV or forensic evidence readily available, the case will often be closed within hours.
Home Office data shows police have failed to solve more than one million burglaries over the past six years as the proportion of offences resulting in a charge has fallen 40 per cent from one in 15 in 2016 to one in 25 last year.
Kit Malthouse, the policing minister, said: “I want to see forces being more pro-active in both preventing and solving these cases to give the public confidence that they are doing the job.
“Crimes like burglary have a profound impact on victims, so sending a police officer in person to every single domestic burglary is key to catching those responsible. Finding them quicker, and deterring their criminal behaviour in the first place, is how we are going to make our streets safer for everyone.”
Vera Baird, the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, warned: “It is critical that victims have confidence that the crimes they report are investigated and that offenders do not feel they can commit these offences with impunity.”
The worst neighbourhoods analysed were Parson Cross in Sheffield, where all of the 104 burglaries were closed without a suspect, and New Arley & Fillongley in Warwickshire, where 99 were unsolved.
A “BRAZEN” burglar has been sent to prison after stealing a family’s car while they were out – before returning to take their second car as they were reporting the theft.
After being charged, Tristram Spencer burgled at least one other property, again going back to steal a car as the vic- tim called police to report a break-in.
The 35-year-old career criminal is now beginning a seven-year sentence.
Police began investigating Spencer in January last year following reports of a burglary at a home in Banstead, Surrey.
The victims returned home and real- ised their Jaguar XFR had been stolen from the driveway and the rear patio doors of their home had been smashed with multiple items taken.
While on the phone to police, the car that the victims had returned home in was also stolen.
An initial search for both stolen vehicles was conducted, but neither could be found. During their enquiries, police found CCTV of the suspect returning after the initial burglary to steal the second vehicle.
Spencer was arrested on Feb 1 2021, on suspicion of burglary, theft of motor vehicle and driving offences.
He was bailed and later charged for these offences in August 2021. While he was awaiting trial, he again came to the attention of police on Feb 16 2022 following a burglary in Fetcham, Surrey.
He was jailed at Guildford Crown Court after admitting multiple offences.
PC Joseph Brown, of Surrey Police, said: “Having caused devastation within the victims’ homes, he would brazenly return whilst the victims were reporting these crimes to steal [their] last financial asset from under their noses.”