A prolific thief stole nearly £12,000 worth of cigarettes and tobacco from 24 stores across Cheshire in one month.
Now Edward Warde has been jailed for three years.
His astonishing crime spree began on September 29th last year and lasted until October 26th.
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He sometimes committed two or three raids in one day, targeting convenience stores, supermarkets, and petrol stations.
His ruse was to fill a carrier with cigarettes at check outs, distract shop assistants, and then run off without paying to his car and drive off.
The 35-year-old from Warrington Road, Runcorn, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court after admitting theft, driving while disqualified and assault.
Cheshire Constabulary said in a statement that in each raid he would enter the shops and pick up some low value items, such as crisps or a bottle of pop.
He would then approach the counter and request large quantities of cigarettes and tobacco, which he would place into a carrier bag as the items were being scanned out.
Just before he was due to pay he would distract the store assistants by requesting another item from behind the till - at which point he would flee the store, before making off in a car with false number plates – despite the fact that he was disqualified from driving.
During one of the incidents at a Tesco Express store in Winsford, Warde also assaulted a store worker who attempted to stop him fleeing the store.
His crime spree was brought to end after detectives from Northwich traced him to address in Runcorn using ANPR data and CCTV footage.
Following the sentencing Detective Constable Claire Heatley, who led the investigation, said: “During our investigation we linked Warde to at least 24 thefts across Cheshire which resulted in the theft of £11,733.93 worth of cigarettes and tobacco.
“These included shops in Winsford, Runcorn, Warrington, Holmes Chapel, Northwich, Runcorn and Widnes.
“Thankfully, as a result of our enquiries we have now been able to bring his crime spree to an end and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.”
A 14-year-old boy from Runcorn was also charged as part of the investigation.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court in November 2021 where he was handed a six month youth referral order.
Warde's raids were at:
• 29/9/2021 -Tesco Petrol Station at Ashley Gateway Retail Park – Widnes
• 3/10/2021 – Tesco Express, Warrington Road, Penketh
• 3/10/2021 – McColls, Warrington Road, Penketh
• 4/10/2021 - Tesco Petrol Station, Manchester Road, Northwich
• 6/10/2021 – Co-op, Hale Road, Widnes
• 7/10/2021 – Spar, Ellesmere Road, Stockton Heath
• 11/10/2021 – Co-op, Kingsway South, Latchford
• 14/10/2021 – Co-op, Knutsford Road, Grappenhall
• 16/10/2021 – Co-op Cherry Lane, Lymm
• 16/10/2021 – Morrison’s Daily, Liverpool Road, Widnes
• 17/10/2021 – Bargain Booze, Ditchfield Road, Widnes
• 17/10/2021 – Spar, Ditchfield Road, Widnes
• 20/10/2021 – Tesco Express, Northwich Road, Weaverham
• 20/10/2021 – Morrison’s, Greenhall Lane, Latchford
• 21/10/2021 – Tall Trees Service station, Tarpoley Road, Whitley, near Northwich
• 21/10/2021 – Spar, Runcorn Road, Barnton
• 22/10/2021 – Co-op, Winnington Lane, Northwich
• 22/10/2021 – McColls, Clifton Drive, Northwich
• 22/10/2021 – Bargain Booze, Orford Lane, Warrington
• 23/10/2021 – Croco Service Station, Middlewich Road, Holmes Chapel
• 23/10/2021 – Co-op, Granville Street, Runcorn
• 23/10/2021 – McColls, Lovely Lane, Warrington
• 23/10/2021 - Morrison’s Daily, Lovely Lane, Warrington
• 26/10/2021 – Tesco Express, Delamere Street, Winsford
