Men jailed after burgling supermarket in Warrington

Three men have been jailed after travelling into Cheshire to steal more than £14,000 worth of stock and cash from a supermarket.

Radas Balkevicius, Jesse Orme, and Richard Mattock were sentenced on Monday 18 December at Liverpool Crown Court for conspiracy to commit burglary in Warrington:

• Balkevicius, 32, of Eskbank, Skelmersdale, was jailed for 36 months
• Jesse Orme, 32, of Woodbridge Close, Romford, was jailed for 33 months
• Richard Mattock, 46, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 31 months

Three further defendants were given suspended sentences for the same charge in relation to this case:

• Joseph Orme, 36, of Woodbridge Close, Romford, received a 22-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 30 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work
• Liam Jackson, 32, of Stonehouse, Cornwall, received a 20-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work
• Christopher Ward, 33, Eskdale, Skelmersdale, received a 16-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 20 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and 200 hours of unpaid work

All six men had previously pleaded guilty.

The incident occurred in the early hours of 24 June 2022 at the newly-opened Sainsbury’s store in Manchester Road, Warrington.

Balkevicius had been working as a carpenter in the construction of the supermarket. As part of his job, he had been given a key and fob to access the business premises - which would form part of the group’s plan.

On 23 June 2022, two vehicles – a white Vauxhall Astra and a white Mercedes Sprinter van – had travelled to Warrington from Essex in convoy. Upon arrival in Warrington, the registrations plates were changed to try and evade police detection.

CCTV footage then showed suspects approaching the Sainsbury’s store on foot and disabling the alarm panel using a key and fob – which Balkevicius had supplied. Once inside, they forced entry to the self-service tills and stole a quantity of cash.

Footage showed the suspects leave the store via the rear door carrying two plastic bags which contained cash and cigarettes. Moments after exiting the store, the Vauxhall Astra is sighted leaving the area and turning right onto Manchester Road.

Following the initial burglary, the Mercedes Sprinter was then spotted driving towards the store and further suspects entered Sainsbury’s wearing paper suits and face masks. While inside the store, the suspects stole cigarettes and alcohol.

Moments later, they also left the store via the rear door.

The store manager had attended the store during this stage of the burglary and contacted police. The Astra and Sprinter activated ANPR and within a mile of the store, officers sighted the van which was blocked in by several police vehicles.

Mattock, Ward, and Joseph Orme were subsequently arrested.

Cigarettes and alcohol were recovered from within the vehicle, along with a set of registration plates. It was later confirmed the vehicle was stolen from Essex.

The Astra continued its journey but changed its registration plates again in a futile attempt to avoid detection. It was spotted travelling south on the M6 entering Sandbach Services to re-fuel. A CCTV image of the man who exited the vehicle confirmed him to be Jackson who was then circulated as wanted. He subsequently attended a voluntary interview.

An investigation of Ward’s phone following his arrest led police to identify Balkevicius who was arrested by colleagues at Lancashire Constabulary on 18 July 2022.

Forensic swabs of the self-service tills recovered by the crime scene examiner matched the DNA profile of Jesse Orme. He was later arrested by Metropolitan Police on 20 December 2022.

DC Neil Mooney said:

“The defendants in this case targeted a business premises in the hope of making some easy money - but instead they have all got criminal records and some have also been given immediate custodial sentences.

“They used a variety of tactics to try and evade police, including using false registration plates. But thanks to the hard work of our officers, there really was nowhere to hide, and they have now been held accountable for their actions.

“This case should send a warning to those intent on travelling into Cheshire to commit crime – we will find you and you will be held responsible.”