Burglar jailed after gang raided Cheshire business stealing £50,000 worth of power tools
Four other men will be sentenced next month
Paul Matei(Image: Cheshire Constabulary)
A burglar who was part of a gang that targeted a commercial premises in Northwich stealing thousands of pounds worth of power tools has been jailed. Paul Matei recently appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
The 37-year-old, of Liston Close, Luton, had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of burglary. During the evening of Thursday 19 February, thieves broke into a commercial premises on Griffiths Road, Northwich, and stole £50,000 worth of power tools and copper cabling before fleeing the scene.
The incident was reported to police the next day. Following enquiries, officers identified a white Ford Transit van involved in the incident. The van had travelled from Luton to Northwich and back again on the day of the burglary.
After establishing Matei was insured on the vehicle, officers attended his address in Luton and conducted a search of his home where they recovered a significant quantity of the stolen tools. Matei was arrested and subsequently charged with the offence of burglary.
Four other men were also arrested and charged in relation to the incident and have since pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 6 March. They are due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday 17 April.
Detective Sergeant John Lyons of Northwich Proactive CID said: "I welcome the sentence handed to Matei, and I hope this result assures residents and local businesses that we will always go the extra mile to protect our communities. In this case, our team travelled to Luton to put Matei and his associates before the courts, and in doing so we recovered a substantial amount of the stolen equipment.
"Anyone who chooses to come to Cheshire to commit crime should be in no doubt, we will track you down, and you will be brought to justice."