Business burglar found with blade

A burglar who stole from a Peterborough pretzel stand and later found with scissors taped to the inside of her arm has been jailed.

Just before 9am on 11 April this year, Sallyanne Williams, 40, let herself into Auntie Anne’s food stall in Queensgate shopping centre and spent about seven minutes helping herself to food, drink and a laptop.

Staff started their shift a short while later and noticed cupboard doors open and the laptop was missing, so requested Queensgate security to review CCTV footage which caught Williams in the act.

Security tracked Williams to CEX in Long Causeway and alerted police who found her lingering outside.

After making enquiries with CEX staff, it was confirmed that Williams had entered the shop and asked about selling a laptop, resulting in her being arrested on suspicion of business burglary.

While being searched, Williams was found to have a pair of scissors taped to the inside of her lower arm, resulting in her being further arrested.

Williams, of no fixed address, appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (23 July) where she was sentenced to six months in prison after previously pleading guilty to burglary with intent to steal and being in possession of a bladed article in a public place – namely scissors.

PC Greta Antanaviciute, who investigated, said: “Williams has more than 50 criminal convictions against her name for various offences including theft, burglary and possession of weapons.

“Despite having two previous convictions for being in possession of a blade in public – on both occasions being found with scissors concealed on her – she has not learnt her lesson.”

Anyone with information about someone who carries a weapon, or an item that could be used as a weapon, can report to police online via the dedicated weapons information webpage.