Two year prison sentence for teenager following spate of burglaries across Portsmouth and Southampton

A 15-year-old boy from Portsmouth has been sentenced to two years in prison for a spate of burglaries and vehicle thefts across Portsmouth and Southampton.

 

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court on Wednesday (18 January), where he was sentenced in connection with the following incidents:

 

• On Thursday 28 July 2022 a vehicle was taken from outside of an address on the Crescent in Southampton. The vehicle was recovered by officers in Portsmouth.
• Sometime between Wednesday 3 August and Monday 8 August 2022 a house was broken into on Lower Drayton Lane in Cosham. Jewellery, clothing, electricals and two bicycles were taken. Two vehicles were also taken from the driveway. Both vehicles were later recovered.
• On Saturday 27 August 2022 at 8.20pm it was reported that a vehicle had been taken from outside of an address on East Shore Way in Portsmouth. The vehicle in question was spotted around an hour later by patrolling officers travelling eastbound on the A27. The driver of the vehicle attempted to evade officers and subsequently mounted a grass verge before coming to a stop.
• On Friday 7 October 2022 at approximately 10.30pm a 15-year-old boy had his phone and airpods taken on Church Road, Portsmouth. He was not injured.
• In the early hours of Friday 4 November 2022 a motorcycle was taken from outside of an address on Church Road in Portsmouth. The vehicle was recovered on London Road.
• On Monday 21 November 2022 a vehicle was taken from outside of an address on Railway View in Portsmouth. Later that evening it was reported that the front and rear registration plates had been stolen from a vehicle parked on Melville Road in Southsea. The stolen vehicle was located by officers on the same night on Union Place. It had been fitted with the stolen number plates from the second vehicle.

 

Police Constable Tony Percival of Hampshire Constabulary’s Operation Hawk team, which specialises in investigating burglary, said: “Although of a young age, this young man spent a number of months committing his own personal crime-wave across Portsmouth, also hitting other areas in Hampshire.

 

“The impact that burglary and theft has on its victims should not be understated, and these crimes were understandably distressing to the people impacted.

 

“We are pleased with this sentence, and hope that it gives the young man involved a chance to reflect on his actions, learn from his crimes and understand the impact it has had on his victims and the community. We hope that this outcome also sends a message out to residents that we are committed to tackling acquisitive crime and protecting our communities from crime of this nature.”

 

Please continue to report suspicious activity to us via 101 or online at https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

 

If a crime is in progress, somebody is in danger or it is an emergency, always call 999.

 

For advice on how to protect your vehicle from theft, please visit https://www.hampshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/keeping-vehicles-safe/preventing-car-vehicle-theft/