Chelmsford: Prolific burglar jailed for crime spree across city

The victims of a series of burglaries, thefts and criminal damage across Chelmsford have praised the forensic investigation which brought the culprit to justice.

Callum Galloway, 27, burgled businesses, stole a moped and smashed car windows before snatching items from within vehicles.

He acted brazenly and without sparing a thought for the damage and trauma left behind by his crimes.

Due to collaborative and fast-paced work at Essex Police, taking in community and local policing officers and forensics teams, we were quickly able to arrest the person responsible.

Galloway’s offending took place between August and October this year.

Vehicles targeted across the city

We linked him to three counts of theft, one count of criminal damage and two of vehicle interference:

• On 13 August, the window of a car was broken in Widford Road, Chelmsford, with a bag taken from within and later found dumped nearby. The bag was seized, analysed and found to have Galloway’s DNA on the inside. Further enquiries showed Galloway on CCTV in the area, shining torches through car windows in the area.
• On 25 August, Galloway attended the Tesco store in Princes Road, Chelmsford, stealing a moped from the area. The moped was tracked, found and forensically seized. Galloway’s DNA was uncovered after a finger mark on the vehicle was analysed.
• On 5 September, Galloway broke car windows at a dealership in Chelmsford, leaving the business to pick up the repair bill.
• On 5 September into the early hours of 6 September, two incidents were reported at Baddow Road car park. Entry was forced to a car and, although no items were taken, the cost of repairs totalled a three-figure sum. Enquiries again uncovered Galloway’s DNA inside the vehicle. A window to a second car was also smashed, with items including a battery charger pack and portable speaker stolen from within. Close analysis of CCTV showed Galloway cycling around the car park shining a torch through vehicle windows.
• On 26 September, the rear window of a car was shattered at a retail park in Chelmsford. Galloway’s DNA was found inside the vehicle.

Offender was a committed burglar

Galloway was also found to have committed five burglaries and one attempted burglary in the area, including:

• On 20 August, a café owner in Chelmsford received a call reporting a break-in at his business. It was discovered items worth a three-figure sum had been stolen. We attended and CSI conducted forensic enquiries, analysing a bag found at the scene which again was found to have Galloway’s DNA on it.
  • On 11 September, Galloway forced his way into three business units at Tattersall Way Estate, causing damage and taking items.
  • On 15 September, he forced his way into a business premises in Gloucester Avenue, taking a safe from inside and leaving damage behind.
  • On 30 September, he burgled Chelmsford Golf Club, in Widford Road, forcing entry to an outbuilding and stealing stock and memorabilia. The cost of damage and items taken was worth £4,500.

We arrested Galloway in Coval Lane, Chelmsford, on Tuesday 17 October, finding he was carrying a screwdriver after a search.

He was left with little choice but to admit five counts of burglary, one count of attempted burglary, three counts of theft, two counts of vehicle interference and one count of criminal damage.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday 1 December, he was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.

'Essex Police worked hard to catch the culprit'

Speaking following sentence, a spokesman for Chelmsford Golf Club said:

“We would like to thank and commend Essex Police for their hard work and diligence in apprehending the culprit.”

Another victim of a burglary committed by Galloway added:

“We are pleased with the outcome of this investigation.
“We hope the court ruling will reflect that this is not normal behaviour, and if this happens people will be punished for their actions.”

Joined-up approach between teams

PC Adam Burns, of Chelmsford Community Policing Team, led the investigation into Galloway’s offending.

He said:
“Finding the person responsible for each of these offences took a collaborative effort between many teams.
“Each report involved a victim who was left to deal with substantial damage to their property or loss of possessions to mindless theft.
“Our focus from the outset was on showing each victim we will work tirelessly to find the culprit and stop further offending.
“Criminal damage, theft and burglary are priorities for us and are never seen as minor crime.
“We know the fear and anxiety such offending causes in the community.
“It is only through good links with the community and businesses in Chelmsford we can build up a picture of where we are seeing these issues arise, setting us on the trail of criminals like Galloway.
“Chelmsford will be a safer place with him behind bars and, crucially, we showed him he cannot brazenly offend without being promptly arrested and brought to justice.”

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