Tap Thief Jailed After £16k B&Q Heist Spree
Daniel Cleveland, 33, from Bromley, has been locked up for three years for nicking taps worth around £16,000. The crafty crook hit 11 B&Q stores across Kent, Essex, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, and London over 13 months, from February 2024 to March 2025.
High-Tech Heist: Caught Throwing Stolen Goods Over Fence
Cleveland didn’t act solo. Security cameras at B&Q’s Larkfield store in Kent caught him and an accomplice chucking stolen taps over a garden centre fence. The pair then grabbed the loot on the other side and bundled it into a getaway car with fake number plates.
Police Clamp Down as Hunt for Crook’s Partner Continues
Police arrested Cleveland at home in April. He pleaded guilty to nine thefts and three attempted thefts at Lewes Crown Court. His partner in crime remains at large. So far, none of the stolen taps have been recovered.
Chief Inspector Rav Pathania, Met police retail crime lead, said: “We prioritise neighbourhood policing to tackle issues Londoners care about, including shoplifting. Working with B&Q, we targeted these thefts and increased shoplifting convictions by 92% this year.”
B&Q Warns Shoplifters: We’re Watching You
Simon Moss, B&Q Security and Commercial Stock Loss Manager, delivered a stern message to thieves: “This case shows the strength of partnership between retailers and police. Shoplifting isn’t a victimless crime. We stand firm in protecting our staff and customers and will back law enforcement to the hilt to catch offenders.”
Timeline of Thefts and Attempts
- Feb 26, 2024 – Attempted theft, B&Q Larkfield, Kent
- Aug 27, 2024 – Theft, B&Q Greenwich, London
- Aug 29, 2024 – Theft, B&Q Ashford, Kent
- Sep 1, 2024 – Theft, B&Q Farnborough, Hampshire
- Sep 3, 2024 – Attempted theft, B&Q Milton Keynes, Bucks
- Sep 23, 2024 – Attempted theft, B&Q Ashford, Kent
- Sep 23, 2024 – Theft, B&Q West Thurrock, Essex
- Oct 23, 2024 – Theft, B&Q Farnborough, Hampshire
- Nov 13, 2024 – Theft, B&Q Braintree, Essex
- Mar 12, 2025 – Theft, B&Q Greenwich, London
- Mar 20, 2025 – Theft, B&Q Larkfield, Kent
