Burglars targeted 12 Dudley homes during crime spree
Two prolific burglars targeted 12 homes and stole four vehicles between them during a month-long crime spree. They have been jailed for more than three years.
Stuart Salt and Robert Smith targeted properties across the Dudley borough, taking more than £10,000 worth of TVs, computers and electrical items. And Smith stole a £15,000 Hyundai car from a petrol forecourt in Asda, Brierley Hill while the owner was buying fuel.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard the pair, who both have children, used the same white van at most of the burglaries and even backed it onto the drive of one property in Coppice Road, Coseley.
Salt, of Overbrook Close, Gornal Wood, and Smith, of Bilston Road, Monmore Green, Wolverhampton, were both originally arrested over the raid in Coppice Road and another in Havacre Lane, Coseley.
But Mr Warren Stanier, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown that they then admitted a catalogue of other offences between September 18 and October 15.
They broke into four properties on October 15 alone.
One victim Vincent Wilde said in a statement that the burglary had left him feeling "powerless to protect his home and family".
In total the pair admitted burgling six homes together, and attempting to burgle three, while Smith also admitted a further burglary and attempted burglary, as well as three thefts of motor vehicles.
Salt, 31, was jailed for 40 months, with four months for a separate charge of handling a stolen mobile phone, while 29-year-old Smith got 44 months. Salt was also given six points on his licence for driving without insurance.
Judge Nicholas Webb told them: "You both went on something of a spree. People like you should understand the sentimental value of items often dwarfs their financial worth."
