Serial car park thief sent to jail
08:18, 17 August 2010
updated: 08:18, 17 August 2010
A serial thief who broke into dozens of vehicles at railway station car parks to fund a drugs habit has been jailed.
Paul Stone's eight-month spree saw him smash his way into commuters' cars at stations across the south east, including one in Chatham.
The 28-year-old, of no fixed address, stole sat-navs, sunglasses and wallets - or "anything that wasn't fixed to the vehicle".
He was jailed for 20 months at Southwark Crown Court on Monday after admitting 26 charges of theft from motor vehicles.
Another 43 offences were taken into consideration by the judge.
British Transport Police DC Jane Hill said Stone's spree saw thefts from vehicles at railway station car parks across the south east between August 2009 and April 2010.
She said: "Stone smashed car windows to steal sat-navs, sunglasses, wallets, tobacco and on one occasion just £2 - pretty much anything that wasn't fixed to the vehicle.
"When it became clear that the thefts from vehicles were not just one-off, chance thefts, we seized CCTV footage from each station and after viewing hours of footage and were able to place Stone at the scene of every crime, as well as capturing him breaking into many of the vehicles."
Stone broke into a car at Chathham station on March 13, but did not get away with anything.
To report anyone acting suspiciously in a station car park, phone BTP on 0800 40 50 40.
Latest news
Features
Most popular
- 1
Boy, 16, found safe after going missing nine days ago
2 - 2
‘This rat-run bridge isn’t wide enough - someone will be killed soon’
- 3
Only shop in village to shut this week as ‘devastated’ couple leave Kent
15 - 4
A-road shut in both directions after water main bursts
- 5
Mum joined teen son in smashing up ex’s family home and car