Two men have been charged following the early morning theft of a Mini Cooper in Norfolk, which was stolen while the homeowner was asleep upstairs.
Around midnight on June 6, a woman in Shotesham All Saints, near Norwich, was alerted by her barking dog. She discovered that burglars had broken in using bolt cutters, stealing her handbag and car keys. Moments later, she saw her £15,000 Mini Cooper speeding away from her driveway.
Roughly three hours later, Norfolk Police spotted the vehicle on Plumstead Road in Norwich, about 10 miles from the scene. Officers used a stinger device to stop the car. Inside were four men, along with bolt croppers and gloves.
Prosecutor Josephine Jones said bank cards from the stolen handbag had already been used at a local kebab shop on Magdalen Street and a petrol station.
Arrests and Charges:
Mark Sutton, 46, of Mallows Walk in Brooke, pleaded guilty at Norwich Crown Court to:
Burglary
Theft of a motor vehicle
Going equipped for burglary
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on August 8.
Nathan Pitchford, 52, of Gertrude Road in Norwich, was driving the car when it was stopped. He appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court after being on the run for a month. He faces multiple charges:
Burglary
Theft of a motor vehicle
Going equipped for burglary
Theft by false representation
Driving without a license
Driving without insurance
Failing to provide a blood sample after a drug test for cocaine
Pitchford has been remanded to HMP Norwich and is due at crown court on August 4.
The two other occupants of the stolen vehicle were released without charge.
