Man who stole cars in Runcorn is jauled

Charlie Swann’s offending began on March 8 this year when CCTV captured his partially covered face trying to force a lock on a backdoor on St Mary’s Road.

It then escalated on March 14 when he entered an address on Morston Road and took a set of car keys inside to steal a BMW 530e parked outside the property.

He then tried to gain entry to an address on Hinton Road in the early hours of the next day but was unsuccessful so headed to Riverside Road where he again snapped a rear lock and stole a set of car keys from inside.

The 26-year-old then stole a BMW that was parked outside the address.

On April 7, his offending moved to Ellesmere Road in Warrington where an electric motorbike was stolen from the back garden

He continued his burglary rampage in Lancashire and Frodsham before returning back to Broadfields in Norton, Runcorn, where a BMW 330 was stolen.

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 May 18 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.

Officers were able to link him to a number of other crimes.

Swann appeared before Liverpool Crown Court last Friday after admitting to five counts of burglary, three counts of attempted burglary, six counts of theft of motor vehicle and one count of taking a motor vehicle without the consent of the owner.

Here he was jailed for three years.

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 101 or report online.

Information can also be given anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.