A CROOK has been locked up for three years after a series of burglaries and thefts where he broke into cars and stole cash.

Wesley Maughan, 21, of Southernhay, Basildon, pleaded guilty to six counts of theft and two burglary offences in relation to crimes committed in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Victims were followed after withdrawing money from the bank and then had their vehicles broken into and the cash stolen.

In one incident, Maughan was able to steal more than £4,200 in cash, as well as a passport and a laptop.

DC Phillip King from the serious crime disruption team, slammed Maughan but also warned residents not to leave cash and valuables inside vehicles, even if it is only for a short period.

He said: “Maughan would typically follow his victims in vehicles after they leave banks with large sums of cash.

“Once the victim parked up their vehicle he would force entry and take the cash.

“This conviction is a timely reminder to all vehicle owners not to leave cash and valuables in vehicles at any time – don’t give opportunistic criminals the chance to steal your property.”

Officers were able to identify and link the series of crimes and secure a case against Maughan.

He was arrested on June 25 this year and was subsequently charged that between May 7 2020 and February 25 2021 in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex he conspired together with other persons to steal cash of a value unknown belonging to others.

In one incident on December 1 last year, on Renfrew Road in Ipswich the victim arrived back at his van to find the front driver’s window smashed and £4,200 in £20 notes, passport and laptop stolen from behind the driver’s seat.

On October 26 in Bildeston, the victim withdrew a large amount of cash from a bank in Ipswich and then parked his car for about 45 minutes, leaving it locked.

Upon the victim returning back to his car and driving home he found that the cash has been stolen.