Second Man Locked Up After Melksham Garage Break-In
A second man has been jailed for smashing and grabbing at a Melksham car garage. Liam Parter, 23, from Sittingbourne, was sentenced to 17 months behind bars yesterday after confessing to five counts of theft from vehicles.
Two Men Nabbed After CCTV Sting
The crackdown follows the August sentencing of Ian Lawson, 41, from Faversham, who got 19 months for the same crime spree. Both men targeted the Dick Lovett Jaguar and Land Rover site in Commerce Way on the night of July 9, 2019.
Alerted by a vigilant CCTV operator, police swooped at 10.30pm when the pair were caught prowling and fiddling with car door handles.
Chase, Dogs and Arrests
Officers spotted the duo leaping over a fence toward the A350, with stolen Land Rover headlights and grills dumped on the ground nearby. A dramatic foot chase ensued.
PC Ali Davies, with police dog Lorrie, quickly found and arrested the suspects. Tools were seized, and damaged vehicles were left with smashed windows, stolen lights, and ripped-off grills.
£7,300 Damage and Quick Police Action
PC Becky Mitchell said: “The damage caused to the vehicles at Dick Lovett was estimated to be in excess of £7,300. Five Land Rovers were damaged, plus fencing repairs.”
“Thanks to the quick response from the CCTV operator and the help of PD Lorrie, we caught and arrested Lawson and Parter swiftly.”
