Watch Thieves Jailed After Smash-and-Grab at Basingstoke Beaverbrooks
Callum Knox, 35, and Lee Gibbon, 38, have been locked up for their role in a violent raid on the Beaverbrooks jewellers in Basingstoke’s Festival Place last February. The duo joined a gang that travelled from Southampton in stolen cars with cloned number plates before storming the store.
Raiders Smash Windows, Make Off With £247,000 in Watches
Armed with sledgehammers, the gang smashed the store’s windows and grabbed a haul of high-value watches. Three men, George Mason, 39, Kurtis Lake, 24, and Jamie Dalton, 30, were caught red-handed and are already behind bars.
Forensics Snare Two More, More Jail Time for Assault Added
Knox from Eastleigh and Gibbon from Southampton were identified after forensic teams combed the scene. On 28 October, Gibbon copped two years and nine months for burglary plus an extra three months for assaulting a police officer. Knox was sentenced to nearly four years.
“This was a pre-planned and targeted burglary where the suspects ended up stealing £247,000 worth of jewellery,” said Detective Constable Paul Beasley.
“Three men were arrested at the scene, but what followed was an extensive investigation by detectives who managed to track down two others involved in the crime. I’m delighted with the result and I hope this reassures local businesses that we take crimes like this very seriously.”
