A prolific thief who targeted several vehicles during the hours of darkness in Sittingbourne and Maidstone has been jailed.
Between 15 October and 1 November 2021, Shane Baker targeted three vehicles and stole cash and power tools.
He also broke into a domestic garage in Hollingbourne where he stole further tools and other property.
Arrest
An investigation into the incidents, including the examination of CCTV footage at two of the crime scenes, led to Baker’s arrest on 1 November. He was detained in possession of 13.6 grams of amphetamine.
Baker, of no fixed address, was later charged with burglary, attempted theft of a car, theft from a vehicle, attempted theft and possession of class B drugs.
While he was remanded in custody, officers continued their investigation into other offences for which he might be responsible. As a result he was further charged with two thefts from cars and nine counts of vehicle interference. All these were committed in Sittingbourne between 12 and 31 October.
Sentenced
Baker pleaded guilty to all the indictments at Maidstone Crown Court and on 20 July 2022, the 33-year-old was sentenced to a total of two years and six months’ imprisonment.
Officer in the case, PC Andrew Kendall-Weaver, said: ‘This criminal is a prolific thief who has caused damage to numerous vehicles and stolen a considerable amount of property.
‘Once he had been arrested and remanded in custody, the investigation did not come to an end and we were determined that he would be sentenced for every crime we could prove he had committed. It is only right that he is now serving a prison sentence.’