Burglar jailed as Chief Constable warns: ‘We won’t keep cutting crime if PCs can’t afford to be cops.’

Burglar jailed as Chief Constable warns: ‘We won’t keep cutting crime if PCs can’t afford to be cops.’

A prolific burglar has been sentenced to seven years in prison, following a relentless investigation by the Essex Police Criminal Investigation Department.

Shane Smith, 31 of Gypsy Lane, Little Dunmow appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, 10 July after pleading guilty to 13 burglary related offences.

Smith was arrested in March 2023 after being connected to burglaries and attempted burglaries in the Braintree District. Between August 2022 and March 2023, he was responsible for breaking into nine homes, stealing items including bank cards, phones and televisions. During one burglary, Smith also stole a West Highland Terrier, which has since been reunited with their owner.

Smith had been connected to the offences following advanced forensic work which was carried out by specialist officers.

The conviction comes as crime continues to fall in Essex. However, the county’s Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington QPM has issued a further warning that the good work of previous years is at risk if experienced officers and police staff can’t afford to stay in the profession due to the spiralling cost of living.

In recent weeks, colleagues have reported:

• Promising PCs are quitting despite the fact that they have great future prospects for promotion to Sergeant and beyond
• Officers are leaving to become taxi drivers or train drivers, or are leaving the UK altogether for better prospects abroad

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington QPM said:

“At Essex Police, we don’t just go to home burglaries after they have happened. We catch the burglars and we stop them doing it again.

We’re delivering justice for all the people whose properties were broken into and peace of mind for everyone who lives in our villages and our cities.

I know we’ll be able to catch even more criminals if I’m able to keep paying a fair wage to skilled investigators who get great results.

I’m speaking up because they deserve a fair deal for the work they do – all I ask is that the force is given the money it needs to make that happen.”

At one of the burglaries, Smith had left behind a metal car jack, leaving his DNA which was then connected to the other ongoing investigations.

This work tied Smith to burglaries in locations including Dunmow, Great Bardfield, Hatfield Peverel and Takeley. He was swiftly charged with nine counts of burglary dwelling, one count of attempted burglary and three counts of fraud by false representation.

After pleading guilty, he appeared in court yesterday (10 July) where he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Detective Chief Inspector Nathan Hutchinson, who oversees investigations in North Essex said:

“Shane Smith thought that he was above the law. He thought we wouldn’t catch him. He was wrong.

“This result demonstrates the length that Essex Police will go to, to take people like him off the streets and to protect people and property.

“Burglary is such an intrusive crime which has a detrimental effect on victims. We understand this and we put our communities first in Essex. That’s why we did everything we could to get the evidence and stop Smith doing this to anyone else.”