Burglar caught red-handed in tool theft
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A burglar was caught red-handed stealing tools worth thousands of pounds from a branch of Halfords in Peterborough.
Nadeem Atwell, 37, broke into the shop in Mallory Road, Boongate, with an accomplice in the early hours of 21 December, activating an alarm in the process.
When officers attended, Atwell ran while the other man was arrested.
Atwell was cornered but he managed to get away after a struggle.
However, he was quickly identified from CCTV footage and arrested the following day.
An investigation found 20 socket sets, with a retail value of £8,800, were stolen during the burglary.
A court heard how three days before the burglary Atwell, of East Road, Cambridge, went to the BP garage in Bretton Way, where he stole three bottles of wine.
Atwell denied burglary, possessing a firearm with intent and administering a noxious thing, but he was found guilty following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court in March.
He admitted the additional count of theft from a shop.
On Thursday (14 May) at the same court he was jailed for three years.
PC Levi Peynado said: “Atwell thought he had escaped justice by getting away from officers at the scene, but he was swiftly identified and apprehended.
“I’m pleased he has now appeared in court and been jailed for his crimes.”
Photo: Nadeem Atwell