A serial burglar who stole five ATMs and seven vehicles across the country in a matter of weeks has been jailed.
Tony Smith, 26, of Cambridgeshire, was jailed for seven years and six months for a cross-country crime spree.
Between May 24 and July 9 this year, Smith travelled across England, stealing from businesses in Dorset, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Shropshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
He was arrested in July after Leicestershire Police officers finally caught up with him following a spate of burglaries in the area.
Detectives were then able to link him to similar offences across the country.
Smith pleaded guilty to 16 offences at Loughborough Crown Court on Friday, November 21.
He stole five ATMs, seven vehicles, two sets of car keys, crane straps and lifting straps and made two further attempts to steal an ATM.
Among the offences, a Co-op store in Leicestershire was ram-raided by Smith on July 9.
The shop was left with a smashed window as he made off with the ATM.
Among his crimes, an ATM was stolen from a Co-op in Whetstone, Leicester on July 9
The store was left with a smashed window and damaged shutter after stealing from the shop
Similar thefts took place at Co-op stores in Leicester, Ludlow, and Christchurch.
Detective Constable Vicki Morris from the force’s Complex Investigation Team said: ‘The offences committed by Smith formed part of a conspiracy to commit burglary series of ATM breaks across the country.
‘The usual method carried out to commit these crimes was to target small supermarkets and steal the ATM machines via a ram raid style method. In the majority of these offences, the vehicles used were stolen and on false number plates.
‘The financial cost left to these businesses was hundreds of thousands of pounds but also included the significant impact in loss of trade for some as work was carried out to repair the damaged premises.
‘I would like to thank all the forces involved in assisting us bringing these charges against Smith. This collaborative effort has resulted in putting Smith before the courts to face the consequences and a lengthy prison sentence.’
Detective Constable Liam Moss, of Dorset County CID, where a number of offences occurred said: ‘This offending targeted commercial premises across Dorset and we have been working relentlessly with colleagues in Leicestershire to identify those involved and bring them to justice.
‘I want to thank the victims who have supplied evidence and supported our investigation for their help in holding Tony Smith to account for his offending.’
