Bracknell

A man has been jailed for a distraction burglary at a Chinese takeaway in Binfield, Bracknell as well as two similar offences in Surrey and the London area.

Mark Smith, aged 37, of Staines, pleaded guilty after a 13-day trial at Kingston Crown Court to three counts of burglary. He was sentenced on Wednesday (20/1) to four years in prison.

At about 1.10pm on 21 March 2009, Smith came to the back door of the Binfield, Bracknell Kitchen Chinese takeaway in Terrace Road North, Binfield, and told staff he had come to fix a leak. By coincidence, there was a leak at the premise and the manager had called a plumber the previous day. Smith was invited inside to look at the problem and discuss the cost of repairs.

After Smith asked for £90 cash in advance to buy parts, the Bracknell manager became suspicious and went into the kitchen to ask a member of staff to note down the index number of Smith's vehicle. When he returned, Smith said he was too busy to do the work and left.

The Bracknell manager called the plumbing firm he had spoken to previously, and was told they had not sent anyone. He then noticed that a bag containing the week's takings - approximately £2,500 in cash and cheques - was missing from the front counter area.

Smith was arrested by Thames Valley Police in April and charged with burglary. Shortly before his arrest, Smith carried out a similar offence at the Dragon Wok, a Chinese takeaway in Ottershaw, Surrey. While on bail awaiting trial for the Binfield, Bracknell offence, he committed a third burglary in June 2009 at an internet café run by a Somalian man in the Metropolitan Police area.

Det Con Ross Fleming, of Thames Valley Police's Priority Crime Team, said: "Smith targeted businesses whose staff did not have English as their first language. He took advantage of their vulnerability to commit what the judge referred to as 'mean crimes.'

"This was a complex investigation due to the fact that Smith committed crimes in three police areas. We have worked closely with our colleagues in Surrey Police and the Met to bring him to justice."

Thames Valley Police ~ Bracknell