Man jailed over burglary spree

CONSPIRACY TO STEAL ATMS ACROSS COUNTRY

- By STAFF REPORTER

A MAN who conspired to burgle and ram-raid a string of businesses in several areas of the country has been jailed.

Tony Smith, 26, was sentenced at Loughborough Crown Court on Friday to a total of seven years and six months in prison.

Smith was arrested in July after being wanted by Leicestershire Police in connection with 16 burglaries at businesses.

Detectives were able to link Smith to several other similar offences across the country earlier this year.

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 and a 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.