Man who stole charity pots in Southampton burglaries is jailed

A man has been jailed for stealing charity pots in burglaries in Southampton.

Steven Reid, 40, of Exford Avenue, Southampton, appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Monday, 16 January, having pleaded guilty to shop and pub burglaries on 14 August and an accommodation burglary on 13 November.

On 14 August, at around 3.20am, Reid broke into Poundland in Shirley High Street by breaking a window on the front door and took the charity pots from the counters of the checkout areas by snapping the chains.

At around 4.10am, Reid broke into the Brightwater Inn in Shirley Road by breaking a panel in the front door. Once inside, he stole two charity pots and three bottles of spirits worth £50, as seen in the video footage above.

The damage to the doors of the shop and the pub totalled more than £700.

The value of the charity pots is unknown.

On the morning of 13 November, Reid gained entry to a bedroom in accommodation in Millbrook Road West via the window.

While the occupant was sleeping inside, he stole their phone, worth £190, and £28 of cash.

He also stole their Nike Air trainers, worth £170, which they were sleeping in.

Reid was arrested in trainers matching the ones stolen.

He was sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Lynsey Andrews was the officer in the case. She said: “Reid’s offences were particularly appalling because he was stealing money meant for a good cause.

“Now he is behind bars he cannot harm the community further.

“We are committed to attending every dwelling burglary because we know the impact this has on people and we hope this sentence shows our dedication to putting burglars behind bars.”