Burglary bloke jailed after DNA snags him at Hastings cafe break-in
Early morning raid at Cafe Royale
A 22-year-old man has been locked up after cops traced his DNA at a Hastings burglary scene. Officers rushed to Cafe Royale on Castle Street after a break-in in the early hours of September 7.
Thugs had forced a door, smashed in, and made off with about £300 from the till and tip box.
DNA on milk carton cracks the case
Police checked the cafe’s CCTV and spotted a man lugging a carton of milk inside. He dropped the bottle while trying to steal the till – and left it behind at the scene.
Forensic experts tested the milk carton. It matched Jake Finn, unemployed and from Hythe, Kent.
Multiple charges and jail time
Finn was arrested and hit with charges of burglary and two counts of theft after nicking booze from Jempson’s supermarket just days later.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on October 8, he pleaded guilty to all offences.
He copped 26 weeks for the burglary plus a week each for the shoplifting, served together. Plus, he must cough up £300 compensation.
Police praise forensic detectives
Inspector Aidan Cornwall of Hastings Neighbourhood Policing said: “We know burglary hits people hard, both emotionally and financially. We’re on the case to catch crooks.”
“This is our second recent burglary conviction in Hastings thanks to our brilliant Crime Scene Investigators. The DNA evidence was key in cracking this one.”
“We’re still hunting for anyone else involved and urge the public to report any suspicious activity.”
