A prolific thief stole more than £10,000 of cigarettes in a spree across more than 20 shops by tricking staff to divert their attention then flee in a getaway car with false plates..
Edward Warde, 35, is now behind bars after Cheshire Police detectives traced him to his address on Warrington Road in Runcorn using automatic number plate recognition data and CCTV footage.
A force spokesman said Warde’s spree lasted nearly a month from Wednesday, September 29, to Tuesday, October 26, when he targeted 24 shops around Cheshire, stealing £11,733.93 of tobacco products in total.
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Each time Warde would enter the store, pick up some items such as crisps or a bottle of pop and at the counter ask for large amounts of cigarettes and tobacco, which he placed in carrier bags during scanning.
The moment before he was due to pay he would request another item from behind the till and once the shop worker was distracted, he would then flee and drive off in a car with false number plates - despite him being banned from driving.
During one incident in Winsford, Warde also assaulted a shop worker who tried to stop him from fleeing.
His crime spree was brought to an end by Cheshire's Northwich Beat Initiative Team.
Warde later pleaded guilty to theft, driving while disqualified and assault.
He appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday where he was sentenced to three years in prison.
Following sentencing, Detective Constable Claire Heatley, who led the investigation, said: “During our investigation we linked Warde to at least 24 thefts across Cheshire which resulted in the theft of £11,733.93 worth of cigarettes and tobacco.
“These included shops in Winsford, Runcorn, Warrington, Holmes Chapel, Northwich, and Widnes.
“Thankfully, as a result of our enquiries we have now been able to bring his crime spree to an end and he is now facing the consequences of his actions.”
A 14-year-old boy from Runcorn was also charged as part of the investigation.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court in November 2021 where he received a six-month youth referral order.
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