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A man who committed a series of car and key burglaries across Runcorn has been jailed for three years.
Charlie Swann of Rumford Close, Liverpool, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday 30 June.
The 26-year-old had previously admitted to five counts of burglary, three counts of attempt burglary, six counts of theft of motor vehicle and one count of taking a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner.
Swann’s offending began on Wednesday 8 March when CCTV at the location captured a male with his face partially covered trying to force the rear patio door lock to an address on St Mary’s Road, Runcorn.
His offending escalated on Tuesday 14 March when he entered an address on Morston Road, Runcorn, and obtained a set of car keys inside to steal a BMW 530e parked outside the property. The car was to be found later that morning by Runcorn police officers.
Then, in the early hours of Wednesday 15 March, Swann attempted to gain entry to an address on Hinton Road by snapping the rear door lock. However was unable to gain entry to the property.
Undeterred by this, Swann forcibly gained entry to a property on Riverside Road, Runcorn, again by snapping a rear lock and then stealing a set of car keys from inside. He then proceeded to steal a BMW that was parked on the driveway of the address. The car was to be found later that morning by Merseyside police officers.
Swann's offending continued on the 7 April when a Sur-Ron electric motorbike was stolen from the rear garden of an address on Ellesmere Road, Warrington. Yet, he would later be linked to the area at a key time by officers investigating.
On Thursday 20 April a Toyota Yaris was stolen from an address in Leyland, Lancashire, with the same method of obtaining the vehicles keys via snapping a rear door lock to gain entry.
Two further burglaries on Monday 24 April and Tuesday 25 April, in which an Audi A4 from an address on Marsh Lane, Frodsham, and a BMW 320 from an address on Broadfields, Norton, were stolen using the same method being reported.
In response to this string of burglaries, Runcorn CID launched Operation Removeable, led by PC Stuart Beswick, with the aim of identifying who was responsible.
The breakthrough came in the form of a report to the police from a member of the public regarding a suspicious vehicle parked in the Merseyside area.
Officers recovered the vehicle and discovered it had been fitted with false number plates - later being identified as the stolen BMW that was taken from Riverside Road Runcorn.
Forensic enquiries were conducted on the vehicle and Swann's DNA was found inside.
Swann was subsequently arrested on Thursday 18 May at his home address on Rumford Close, Liverpool. During a search of the address, a distinctive bag seen on CCTV during the attempted burglary at an address on St Mary's Road, Runcorn, was found.
Swann was later interviewed and charged with attempt burglary relating to the St Mary’s road and taking the stolen BMW from Riversdale Road without the consent of the owner. He was remanded into custody.
Further forensic evidence was later obtained from a burglary at the Marsh Lane, Frodsham, with Swann’s DNA tying him to the stolen Audi A4. The vehicle was later recovered by Runcorn officers.
Enquiries also linked Swann to the scene of a car and key burglary at Broadfields, Norton that occurred the same night.
Officers were also able to link Swann to the car and key burglary in Leyland, Lancashire and the theft of the electric motorbike from Ellesmere Road, Stockton Heath.
On Monday 12 June Swann was further arrested and later admitted the offences along with a further car and key burglary at Almond Avenue, Runcorn where a BMW was stolen, a car and key burglary at Morston Road, Runcorn where another BMW was stolen and attempt burglaries at Hinton Road, Runcorn and Carriage Drive, Frodsham.
Following the sentencing, Police Constable Stuart Beswick of CID Proactive, said:
"Swann is a prolific offender and I hope the fact that he is now behind bars will provide his victims with some closure.
"This investigation has been a real team effort and has utilised resources throughout Cheshire Constabulary from Crime scene investigation, forensic services and a team of dedicated local proactive officers.
"I want the local community to be reassured by the resources available within Cheshire Constabulary to deal with serious crime.
"I know the deep impact that burglary offences have on victims and I want the residents of Cheshire to know that we will do everything possible to identify and bring those responsible to justice. I also want to warn anybody who is considering committing these kinds of offences in Cheshire to think again."
To report any burglary or suspicious behaviour, call Cheshire Constabulary on 999 if it's in progress or call 101 or report it via our website if otherwise.
Information can also be given anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.