Burglar Caught Wearing His Victim’s Boots After Raiding Southampton Poundland and Pub
Steven Reid, 40, from Southampton, pleaded guilty to multiple break-ins at Southampton Crown Court on January 16. His crime spree targeted charity pots, pubs, and a sleeping victim’s home.
Early Morning Raid on Charity Pots
On August 14, Reid smashed a window at Poundland on Shirley High Street just after 3 a.m. He ripped the chains off charity pots at the checkout, making off with the donations inside. But that was just the start.
Less than an hour later, Reid broke into the Brightwater Inn nearby by forcing open the front door. He stole two more charity pots and three bottles of spirits worth £50. Damage to the shop and pub doors cost over £700 to fix.
Terrifying Home Burglary—Victim Asleep
On November 13, Reid broke into a bedroom in Millbrook Road West through a window while the resident was asleep. He stole a phone worth £190, £28 in cash, and the victim’s £170 Nike Air trainers—the very ones he was caught wearing.
“He Stole From Charity and Vulnerable Victims”
Lynsey Andrews, lead investigator, blasted Reid’s actions: “Reid’s offences were particularly heinous because he was stealing money meant for a good cause.”
“Now he is behind bars he cannot harm the community further. We are committed to attending every dwelling burglary because we understand the impact this has on people, and we hope this sentence demonstrates our commitment to putting burglars behind bars.”
Reid received a 21-month prison sentence, locking him up for the crimes that shook the Southampton community.
