Burglar who got into Bedford shop by digging through a wall is jailed
He was arrested wearing a coat he took from the store
Last updated 11th Aug 2021
A burglar, who got into a high-end clothing shop in Bedford by digging through a wall, has been jailed.
Richard West, aged 46, of Shakespeare Road, Bedford, was arrested wearing a coat he took from the store.
He was found guilty of one count of burglary and one count of attempting to commit burglary, and has been jailed for 32 months.
At around 2am on 4 July, officers responding to an alarm activation at designer menswear store Maysons, in High Street, apprehended a man behind the shop who was wearing a coat with the shop’s price tag on.
A hole in the wall was then discovered between the store and a corridor in the adjoining property.
Items from the shop totalling almost £11,000 in value had been bagged and placed on the other side.
CCTV footage obtained from the store showed West entering, selecting items and bagging them, and putting on the coat.
PC Luke Skelton, from Bedfordshire Police's Crime Investigation Department, who led the investigation, said:
"On his arrest, West said 'you caught me fair and square'.
"Although he was only in the store for a matter of minutes, he caused considerable damage and helped himself to a large quantity of designer goods.
"There was a significant amount of evidence pointing towards his guilt and the planning required to execute this burglary, and I’m happy that he’s now behind bars."