Police in Shropshire vow no let-up in catching burglars
Police chiefs in Shropshire today pledged that tackling burglary remains a force priority after two men were jailed for committing a string of break-ins across the region.
Adam Morris and Richard Inman were jailed for a total of nearly eight years after admitting burgling 13 homes, including six in Shropshire.
Detective Inspector Tom Harding, of West Mercia Police, welcomed the sentences handed out yesterday at Shrewsbury Crown Court.
He described Morris, who carried out the raids while Inman acted as getaway driver, as a "prolific offender and career criminal".
Det Insp Harding pledged that prevention of household burglaries and the investigation of such offences would remain a top priority for the force.
"There will be no let-up in putting such criminals before the courts," he said.
"These men caused considerable upset to victims in Shropshire and other parts of the Midlands.
"Burglary remains high on our agenda, both in Shropshire and across the West Mercia Police area as a whole.
"It's an offence that not only impacts on individual victims but also on the community as a whole and we are determined to continue our work in reducing these type of crimes.
"Furthermore, the sentencing of these two offenders serves as a timely reminder to everyone to ensure doors are kept locked at all times when not in use and windows secured when away from home.
"Being security-conscious is so important and with summer approaching, it's important we all take basic security precautions."
Morris, 31, of Mount Road, Wordsley, Stourbridge, and Inman, 24, of The Brambles, Pedmore, Stourbridge, both admitted 13 charges of conspiring to burgle between November 2012 and January 2013.
They pleaded guilty at a previous hearing and appeared at court yesterday for sentencing.
Judge Peter Barrie, sitting at Shrewsbury Crown Court, sentenced Morris to five years in prison and Inman to two years and eight months.
Miss Caroline Bradley, prosecuting, told the court partial footprints taken from several of the burgled homes matched those of Morris. Several items of jewellery, as well as computers and consoles, were found to have been pawned or sold by the men.
Inman even gave a gold bracelet, taken from a home in Sandbourne Drive, Bewdley, to his mother as a present, Miss Bradley said. It was later recovered by police.
Det Insp Harding said the public had an important role to play in reporting suspicious activity by calling 101 and if they thought a crime was in progress, to contact 999.
