UPDATE: A career criminal was apprehended with a “professional burglary toolkit” after attempting to flee a Furniture Village store in Stockton during the early hours of May 20, 2023. Paul Thomas, aged 54, was caught red-handed shortly after stealing four lamps from the shop on Portrack Lane.
The incident unfolded just after midnight when a police patrol spotted Thomas racing away from the scene on Haverton Hill Road. In a dramatic sequence, the officer executed a U-turn and pursued Thomas, who sped through a red light, prompting the officer to activate his siren.
As Thomas pulled into a layby, his passenger bolted from the vehicle, but the officer quickly apprehended him. Upon arrest, Thomas claimed his accomplice fled because “he’s a wanted man.” Initially detained for assisting an offender, further investigation revealed Thomas was responsible for the burglary reported just minutes earlier.
In a search of Thomas’s vehicle, authorities discovered a range of burglary tools, solidifying his guilt in the crime. Teesside Crown Court heard that he had a long criminal history, with multiple previous convictions for burglary dating back to 1993, including a seven-year prison sentence in 2008 for conspiracy to burgle. Most recently, in February 2023, he was convicted of drug dealing.
During the court proceedings, prosecutor Jenny Haigh emphasized the impact of such crimes on local businesses, noting, “When commercial premises suffer losses like that, the way they recover their costs is by increasing their prices. Members of the community pay more.”
Judge Peter Makepeace described the assortment of tools found in Thomas’s vehicle as indicative of a professional burglar. He sentenced Thomas to a ten-month prison term suspended for two years, requiring him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and participate in an accredited program for 26 days, along with 25 rehabilitation days under probation supervision.
In a stern warning, Judge Makepeace told Thomas, “Do not test me on this. If you do, I will take pleasure in committing you to prison. This is a chance I’ve given you.” The community watches closely as the repercussions of Thomas’s actions remain palpable.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story and sign up for our free newsletter for the latest news from Teesside.
