Burglar tricked police when he was pulled over
A burglar who raided a house and had £440 worth of stolen cosmetics in his van was let go by police – despite his accomplice fleeing on foot when the officers arrived, a court heard.
Officers pulled over the van in Churchfield Avenue, Tipton, after a neighbour reported a burglary was under way on January 3 at about 7.30pm.
Despite finding the vehicle contained 15 boxes of Avon cosmetics, which it later transpired had been stolen from a home in the street minutes earlier, they took no action when John Tripicchio 'appeared to give a credible explanation' prosecutor Mr Mark Rees told Wolverhampton Crown Court.
This was despite another man jumping out of the van and running away. Days later Tripicchio was contacted by police and told to attend a police station where he was arrested for burglary.
Charges against the driver of the van have since been dropped.
Mr Rees told yesterday's hearing the stolen goods were not recovered. When Tripicchio was interviewed he said he had been asked by a friend to 'help move some items' including the Avon products.
Mr Malcolm Fowler, defending, said: "He has had the maturity to plead guilty to the offence. This has been his first involvement in a burglary from a dwelling in a very long time indeed."
Tripicchio, aged 45, of Allen Road, Tipton, who admitted burglary, was given a 10-month sentence suspended for 15 months and he must also undergo 12 months supervision and carry out 50 hours unpaid work. Judge Amjad Nawaz told him: "The strange and bizarre aspect of this case is that the police arrived and stopped you along with two others in the van, but you are the only one effectively facing the music."
