A 46-year-old man was arrested after being linked to multiple vehicle thefts in Skegness, thanks to crucial community intelligence and a police drone operation.
On 2 November, a man was captured on CCTV between 2:04 am and 2:13 am on Burlington Way in Skegness, breaking into a Mercedes Vito van, from which clothes, glasses, and cash of an unknown value were stolen.
The suspect, Paul Priestly, was found to be breaching two conditions of his Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO): by not being at his home address at that hour and by touching a vehicle that did not belong to him.
Earlier, on 13 August at 11:44 pm on Norwood Road in Skegness, Priestly had also broken into a BMW 1 Series, stealing Ray-Ban sunglasses worth £150, a Michael Kors handbag worth £200, bank cards, a small Michael Kors purse worth £70, a driving licence, and approximately £30 in cash. Again, this was in violation of his CBO.
Priestly was identified with the help of the community who responded to police appeals for information. Officers received intelligence from residents via various channels, including speaking directly to officers on patrol, online reporting, and anonymous tips through CrimeStoppers. This intelligence proved instrumental in identifying the 46-year-old as the prime suspect for the incidents.
Officers received information that Priestly might be sleeping rough in a tent along the beach in Skegness. A police drone located a tent on the beach, which was searched under Section 18. During the search, a Michael Kors handbag containing bank cards and a driving licence belonging to the BMW 1 Series victim was found. A quantity of white powder and cannabis was also discovered, later identified as amphetamine and cannabis, which Priestly admitted was for his personal use.
Priestly was subsequently arrested, charged, and remanded into custody on 21 November. He appeared before Boston Magistrates’ Court on 22 November, where he pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled drug of Class B (amphetamine and cannabis), and two counts of breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order. He was bailed and will appear again on 27 November for sentencing.
Inspector Jacky Evans from Skegness Neighbourhood Policing praised the community for their assistance, stating that identifying Priestly and bringing him to court was a result of community cooperation. She thanked residents for responding to police appeals and expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing the importance of the community’s role in tackling crime.
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