Prolific burglar who stole thousands from homes in Birmingham jailed for 10 years
Craig Tombs has been jailed after admitting to a string of burglaries across Birmingham.
A prolific burglar has been jailed for multiple burglary offences committed across Birmingham.
Craig Tombs, 42, was jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty at Birmingham Crown Court.
The 42-year-old, of no fixed address, committed multiple burglary offences between June 2023 and April 2024.
Tombs broke into several homes, stealing thousands of pounds worth of items, such as family jewellery, antique dining sets, and a car.
Tombs also pleaded guilty to burgling a church in Kings Norton, where 19 items were stolen, including silver plates and goblets dating back to the 1700s.
Tombs was previously convicted of burglary and was given an opportunity to have a deferred sentence and enter an intensive community sentence plan, as part of the Crime Free programme at West Midlands Police.
The Crime Free Team targets individuals who are engaged in prolific, non-violent burglary offending.
As part of the programme, the individual is given the opportunity to admit to previous offending, and they must give back the property that was stolen.
Through this programme, officers were able to reunite a large amount of stolen property back with their rightful owners.
However, despite Tombs enrolling onto the Crime Free Programme, he went onto recommit offences and, as a result, he was handed a lengthier sentence.
On Tuesday 27 August, Tombs was sentenced 10 years in prison for multiple offences, and he was also handed an 18-month driving ban.
PC Alan Reeves, from the Crime Free Team, said: “Tombs was a notorious thief who repeatedly targeted homes.
“We worked with multiple policing teams and forces to arrest and charge him, and see him jailed.
“I hope this sentence offers justice to those that Tombs targeted, and that it sends a message to those who commit this crime, that we do not tolerate it and we will take action.
“We understand the cost and emotional distress that burglary causes, and where offences are reported we will investigate and work to identify those responsible.”