Essex police: Prolific Southend burglar arrested and jailed with accomplice
Southend 5167235 1280
A prolific burglar who targeted residences, stores and a church in the Southend region has been sentenced to prison after being apprehended with an accomplice while in the act in Westcliff.
Micky Scott, 32, of Southview Drive, Westcliff, and Josh Love, 28, of Chichester Close, Rayleigh, were arrested on Wednesday, February 15. The two were charged in connection with several burglaries and thefts.
“This was a complex and detailed investigation, using GPS tag data as key evidence to secure charges against a prolific offender,” said Detective Constable Sam Sheehan of Southend CID.
“Our dedicated investigation into Scott’s actions, which included working with several teams including officers who manage offenders and their electronic monitoring, allowed us to literally stop him in the act.”
Details of charges
Scott was released from prison in January with an electronic monitoring tag. This tag proved crucial in securing charges against him, as he quickly returned to a life of crime in February, targeting shops, homes, and businesses in the Southend area.
Scott’s tag linked him to ten burglaries across Southend. The burglaries often involved high-value items or property damage worth thousands of pounds.
Scott was first found responsible for a burglary in the Cliffs Pavilion in Westcliff on February 5, where he stole bottles of alcohol and caused hundreds of pounds in damage.
On the same day, Scott also burglarised a home in Westcliff, stealing two bikes from the living room. One day later, he burgled a shop in Westcliff, smashing a glass door with a brick to steal alcohol.
Essex Police also linked Scott to a church burglary in Westcliff on February 7, which caused £1,700 in damage.
Scott pleaded guilty to ten burglaries, two attempted burglaries, and one theft. He was sentenced to 52 months at Basildon Crown Court on Monday, October 9.
Meanwhile, Love was also found after CCTV analysis linked Love to thefts at shops in Southend and Leigh-on-Sea. He pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and two counts of theft.
Love was sentenced to one year and six months in prison at the same court with Scott on July 24. In addition, he also received a 42-week suspended prison sentence.
Essex police: Stay safe
According to DC Sheehan, Scott completely disregarded the well-being of his many victims, causing them to feel unsafe.
“We are all too aware that burglary amounts to far more than the theft of property. It is a deeply unsettling offence, which leaves victims feeling helpless,” said DC Sheehan.
“Several of those he targeted now feel unsafe in their own homes and continue to live with the trauma of these unpleasant crimes.”
In the wake of this arrest, Essex Police shared safety tips. It is important to note that CrimeRate data show that Southend is the most dangerous city in Essex, ranking 23rd out of 315 towns, villages, and cities.
Southend also had the highest burglary rate in Essex in December 2022, with 50 crimes reported and a rate of 0.27 per 1,000 inhabitants.
Protecting yourself and high-value items in your home can start by enhancing the security of your windows and doors. A locksmith from the Master Locksmiths Association can recommend the right window lock and advise on the appropriate window security upgrades.
For your doors, choose security-accredited products tested to British Standards and approved by the insurance industry. Install a spyhole and security chain to be fitted. You can also include an additional rim lock for wooden doors that automatically locks when the door is closed.
CCTV cameras, intruder alarms, and automated lighting are some additional security tools that can be installed for extra protection. You can also hire the help of security agencies like Marengo for comprehensive protection of your home.
Source:
https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/23328069.westcliff-burglaries-sees-two-men-charged/
https://www.yellowad.co.uk/two-charged-after-spate-of-burglaries-in-westcliff/
https://crimerate.co.uk/essex/southend-on-sea
https://www.essex.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/
