Two men from Bedford who were identified on CCTV using stolen bank cards have been jailed for a total of nine years and one month.
Justin Wilson, 42 of no fixed abode and Emmerson Shaw, 43 of Richbell Court, Bedford, were sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday (28 April), after pleading guilty to a string of offences that took place across the town.
At around 2.30pm on Tuesday 10 September 2019, Wilson and Shaw entered the changing room area of a leisure centre in Bedford where they stole property belonging to three separate victims.
The following week, between 10pm on the 16 September and 7.30am on the 17 September 2019, the pair entered a property via a front bay window on Sidney Road, Bedford, where they stole a number of items including a handbag and three bank cards.
The offenders were caught after the victim received a text alert from her bank informing her of a transaction that had taken place.
After checking her online banking she realised that all three cards had been used in contactless transactions at various locations across Bedford.
The offenders were traced and identified through CCTV footage at the locations where the stolen bank cards were used.
Wilson was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment and Shaw was sentenced to 73 months imprisonment.
Detective Constable Kevin Howes from Bedfordshire Police’s Crime Investigation Team said: “We are satisfied that both Wilson and Shaw have received custodial sentences and will hopefully take this time to reflect on their actions.
“These type of offences have a huge effect on the victims involved and we will do all we can to investigate and bring these offenders to justice.”
