Burglar jailed after Bolton business crimewave

Michael Hill and others climbed into premises through roofs and, on one occasion, smashed their way out of a Mercedes dealership storage compound in a stolen Range Rover.

In June, September and October last year 31-year-old Hill and others targeted premises around Bolton town centre including Dave's Aquarium and NWCE Food Services on Folds Road, the Marshall Mercedes workshop on Mill Street, Kwik Fit and J&P Vehicle Deliveries on Howard Street and Magic Surface Repairs and Bolton Bathrooms at Nelson Mill.

At Bolton Crown Court Hill, of Lodge View Caravan Site, Bolton, was jailed for two years and four months.

Judge Tom Gilbart told him: "These were extremely serious offences as I think you now appreciate.

"Local businesses and business owners have been through a difficult time for the last few years and what you did has, by and large, had an impact upon their business.

"This was planned criminality involving theft and damage to a high value and you willingly went along with that on a number of occasions over a relatively short period."

Patrick Williamson, prosecuting, outlined the crimes drug addict Hill was involved in, which began in the early hours of June 20 last year at Dave's Aquarium.

Dave's Aquarium

He removed a skylight at the premises and stole a total of £600 from the tills and an office. DNA on a cigarette left nearby was linked to Hill.

Then, on September 1, at around 10.30pm Hill and another man were spotted on CCTV climbing over a perimeter wall at a compound used by Mercedes and Volkswagen to store vehicles.

Despite being warned on a tannoy that they had been seen, the brazen thieves began to unlock cars using key fobs from among a haul of up to 60 keys, worth around £20,000, stolen earlier from Marshall Mercedes.

Burglars had climbed a lamp post and removed a roof panel to gain access to the building.

In the compound Hill and another man selected a 2018 Range Rover and new Mercedes GLE 400, together worth £85,000.

"The Range Rover was used to effect an escape from the compound by being reversed through the main gates, quickly followed by the Mercedes," said Mr Williamson.

Footprints from the scene were linked to Hill, along with DNA on a lighter left on the compound wall and the court heard that additional security guards have since been employed.

Commercial catering equipment company NWCE was next to be targeted on the afternoon of September 12 when Hill smashed a hole in the warehouse's roof and stole a safe and £300 in petty cash.

Hill returned that evening to search offices and police identified him from CCTV.

The court heard that damage to the roof is estimated to be £60,000 — cash which the firm cannot afford and means some jobs may be put at risk.

The following day Hill and others were stealing again, this time smashing into Kwik Fit by driving into a tyre bay shutter and stealing two electronic tablets.

One of the thieves had attempted to climb a drainpipe at the premises and police managed to recover Hill's fingerprint from it.

On September 24, just before 3am, a sledgehammer was used to smash into J&P Vehicle Deliveries and keys were stolen for 11 Fiat 500 cars parked outside and a spare key for the owner's own Range Rover.

An £18,000 Mercedes van was stolen, along with a Voodoo pedal cycle and later that morning the Range Rover was stolen from outside the owner's home address.

A tracker on the vehicle led police to Warwick Road, Bolton, where Hill was recognised.

"On seeing the police vehicle, the defendant got into the driver's seat of Range Rover and began to make off at speed," said Mr Williamson.

It was later found abandoned on Prestwich industrial estate with its contents, including a Rolex watch and golf clubs, missing.

Mr Williamson added that the Mercedes van was found at Lodge View Caravan Site, where Hill lives.

When arrested, Hill was riding the stolen pedal cycle.

He was also involved in burglaries at Magic Surface Repairs and an attempted burglary at Bolton Bathrooms, both in Nelson Mill, on September 27 as well as the theft of two mobile phones from a van parked at Dave's Aquarium on October 7.

Hill pleaded guilty to burglary, attempted burglary and theft but Helen Longworth, defending, stressed that he had not been the mastermind behind the crimes.

She appealed for Hill, who works in the family funfair business, to be spared jail, adding that he has now managed to free himself of drugs while on remand in prison.