Burglar Nabbed After £10,000 Phone Shop Heist
A thief who ransacked a phone shop and made a failed break-in attempt at another has been locked up for nearly three years. Ian Shakespeare, 39, from Broxtowe, smashed his way into the Mobile Lab on Nottingham Road, Stapleford, in the early hours of 9 May 2019.
Caught on CCTV with Stolen Goods
Shakespeare was spotted on CCTV swiping over 100 customer devices, worth around £10,000. The items belonged to customers who had sent them for repair. An officer recognised Shakespeare from the footage, leading to his arrest.
Failed Break-In and Sledgehammer Charge
Just weeks later, Shakespeare tried to break into the Emobile shop on Alfreton Road, Radford, at 3.15am on 27 May but was spooked by a member of the public. A firearms officer caught him fleeing the scene.
Police also found him carrying a sledgehammer, leading to a guilty plea for possession of an offensive weapon.
Jail Time and Justice Served
On 20 August at Nottingham Crown Court, Shakespeare was sentenced to two years and four months for the Stapleford burglary plus six months for the Radford attempted break-in — a total of two years and ten months behind bars.
Police Sergeant Alison Bryan said: “Shakespeare caused a lot of upset to the business owner and the many victims affected who had their items stolen. We’re glad we were able to identify who was responsible and that he has now been held to account for his crimes.”
“It’s completely unacceptable to invade a business and steal from the owners. We won’t tolerate burglary offences in Nottinghamshire.”
