Man jailed four days after comitting Shropshire burglary
A burglar who broke into a Shropshire home has been jailed for six months – just four days after committing the offence.
Jacob Sidney Bassom, aged 21, of Bronwylfa, Llanymynech broke into a large detached house in the neighbouring village of Pant on Monday night.
The burglary was reported to police the following day, forensic examination conducted on Wednesday, and a fingerprint identified leading to the offender yesterday.
Bassom was arrested, charged and appeared before Shrewsbury magistrates today, receiving a six-month prison sentence. He admitted burglary of the home and stealing a 50-inch Samsung plasma television, two laptops, two ornamental swords, some jewellery and alcohol.
The stolen property was recovered from an address in the Oswestry area.
Detective Inspector Pete Brophy, from the West Mercia Police burglary unit in Shrewsbury, said: “Some excellent police work enabled us to bring this burglar to justice in the same week the offence was committed.
“Domestic burglaries are a priority for the police and due to the nature of this incident, it was highlighted for forensic examination carried out by Shropshire Scenes of Crime Officers (SOCO) on Wednesday.
“Further enquiries were made by local burglary unit officers. A number of suspicious fingerprints were found by the SOCO officers and these were forwarded to the fingerprint bureau. A match was made yesterday confirming local resident Bassom as a suspect.
“He was arrested at an address in Pant yesterday afternoon, interviewed by staff from Shropshire Proactive CID and the Integrated Offender Management Unit when he fully admitted his involvement.
“Evidence was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service and a decision made to charge him and keep him in custody overnight to appear before Shrewsbury magistrates this morning.”
Superintendent James Tozer, West Mercia’s Shropshire commander, said: “Excellent teamwork by police officers and staff resulted in a good and fast result.
“House burglaries do receive priority treatment and it’s gratifying for the victims and the police when offenders are quickly traced and then dealt with by the courts.
“All police investigations rely on the accumulation of evidence – of information which can be pieced together to present a fuller picture. That’s where the public can always assist us by reporting suspicious activity without delay by calling 101, or 999 when a crime is actually taking place.”
