Burglar stole more than £1,000-worth of booze from Newcastle nightspot
by Kali Lindsay · ChronicleLiveA burglar broke into a Newcastle city centre pub and stole more than £1,000-worth of alcohol.
Northumbria Police were informed of a report of burglary at a premises in Dean Street, in Newcastle, which took place on the morning of December 2. Officers working as part of Operation Spear found CCTV of a suspect forcing entry to the premises through a fire exit door, before jumping over the bar and putting the booze in a backpack, before leaving the building.
Police quickly identified the offender as 37-year-old Martin Hart and he was arrested by officers in the Newcastle Quayside area on December 5. Hart made no comment during interview and was then charged with burglary.
He appeared before Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Friday, December 6, and pleaded guilty to the offence, after which he was remanded in custody.
Hart, of no fixed abode, is due to appear before the same court to be sentenced on Thursday.
Inspector Karen Madge, of Northumbria Police, said: “Following this report coming in, we worked quickly to trace Hart as the culprit and he was arrested just a few days later.
“We were then able to get him charged and put before the courts where he has admitted this offence.
“Through proactive Operation Spear, officers operate both in plain clothes and uniform to prevent, detect and deter crime.
“The team actively seeks every possible opportunity to effectively identify suspects and bring them to justice.
“Our hope is that this case shows how seriously we take businesses in our city being targeted and the value of having working CCTV installed as a form of security if you are able to do so.”
If you see something suspicious in your community, send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media, use the live chat function on the website or use the report forms, also on the website.
For those unable to make contact via those way, call 101. In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999.
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