A police officer who spotted a vehicle full of toys led to the conviction of three brazen thieves who stole £4,000-worth of Lego from B&M stores across Nottinghamshire. A manhunt was launched after stores in Worksop, Mansfield and at Victoria Retail Park in Netherfield were targeted in a two-day spree.
On each occasion, CCTV footage showed the men wearing baseball caps as they entered during opening hours. The trio took reusable shopping bags which they filled with Lego products and walked out without paying. They were caught when a police officer spotted a vehicle full of toys in the Newark area on Wednesday, August 31.
Police officers stopped the vehicle as it travelled along the A17. And all three male occupants were then arrested and later charged with three counts of theft.
Read More: Nottinghamshire bin lorry catches fire after car battery put in waste
Conlon McDonagh, 22, of Gregory Road, Southall, Ealing; Tom McDonagh, 22, of Greenwood Avenue, Enfield; and Patrick Ward, 22, of Gregory Road, Southall, pleaded guilty to all the charges after appearing at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday, September 2.
The court was told the first theft took place at the B&M store in Bridge Place, Worksop, at around 5pm on Monday, August 29. One of the men distracted staff whilst the other two stole nearly £650 worth of Lego from the shelves.
Then at 8pm on the same evening, the trio targeted the B&M store in Baums Lane, Mansfield, filling up four large bags with Lego products worth approximately £1,000 before leaving without paying. The next day they took almost £3,000 worth of Lego products and toys from the B&M store at Victoria Retail Park.
On this occasion, a shop assistant challenged them as they were leaving, and one of thieves swore at her before they all fled in a car. The men were caught the following day and put before the court. They each received an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, meaning they must not commit any further offences or they will be sent to prison.
The trio were also banned from entering any B&M store in England and Wales for a year. Sergeant Antony Coleman said: “They travelled to Nottinghamshire to commit these high-value thefts, thinking they could get away with it. They were wrong. Due to the dedication and professional work of the force's Prisoner Handling Team, the courts have been able to deal with the matter in a timely manner."
Read Next:
'Save your tears for the judge' Nottinghamshire Police warning for biker riding without license
CCTV images released as police hunt thieves who stole thousands from elderly victims
Live updates as closure of major road causes delays for drivers after crash
New image shows scale of £25m project planned at former Total Fuel site
