Career Burglar Caught After Brazen Home Raids and Car Thefts
Tristram Spencer, 35, from Watney Close, Purley, was slammed with a hefty jail term after a string of burglaries and vehicle thefts in Surrey and Berkshire. The career criminal finally faced justice at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, 10 June, where he pleaded guilty to multiple offences.
Shocking Banstead Burglary Sees Jaguar and More Stolen
Back in January 2021, police rushed to a Diceland Road home in Banstead after reports of a break-in. The victims returned to find their Jaguar XFR missing, back patio doors smashed, and high-end loot gone – including a TV, Xbox, PlayStation, drone, car keys, and luxury watches. While still on the phone to police, they watched helplessly as another car they’d just arrived in was stolen too.
Forensics found blood at the scene, and CCTV captured Spencer driving to and from the property. He even made a daring return to swipe the second vehicle just minutes later.
Fetcham and Beyond: Spencer Strikes Again
While awaiting trial, Spencer hit another home in Fetcham in February 2022. The victim found smashed patio doors and a pile of stolen items gone — jewellery, sunglasses, a designer bag, and crucially, car keys. The victim’s tracker on the keys showed the BMW’s live location in Beckenham, where police swooped and caught Spencer red-handed.
In Spencer’s hideout, officers seized stolen goods and the BMW keys, with the victim’s vehicle found parked nearby the next day. Spencer later admitted to additional burglaries in Cobham and Slough during his court appearance.
Judge Hands Down 7-Year Sentence
Judge Rufus Taylor sent Spencer down for seven years, calling him a “career criminal” with no remorse. PC Joseph Brown blasted him: “After wreaking havoc on victims’ homes, he brazenly returned to rob them again while they reported his crimes. Despite chances from the courts, Spencer chose to keep offending.”
The police praised the public whose tips and CCTV footage helped seal Spencer’s fate. Thanks to a tough investigation, Surrey has one less dangerous burglar on its streets.
