Wisbech man jailed after dashcam captures van theft
The footage showed Richard Lake as he stole a van
A 36-year-old man who filmed himself on a dashcam while stealing a van in Wisbech has been sentenced to three years in prison.
Richard Lake burgled a house in Robin Mews on the 12th August 2023, stealing the van keys and two Samsung Galaxy tablets. He waited for the homeowner to leave before breaking into the property at 8.44am.
Using the stolen keys, Lake later stole the homeowner’s Citroen Berlingo van. While trying to remove the dashcam, he inadvertently recorded himself inside the vehicle, which provided crucial evidence for police.
The van was fitted with a tracker, which alerted the owner to the theft, allowing authorities to locate it in a field in Acacia Avenue, Wisbech. Inside, officers found resuscitation dummies and first aid items scattered around, which had been inside the van before it was taken.
Lake, of Ingle Road, Elm, Wisbech, denied both the burglary and van theft. However, he was found guilty on 10th December and sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on 18th December.
Detective Sergeant Rhiann Ward, of Cambridgeshire Constabulary said, “Lake waited on the man to leave his home before breaking in – he has no comprehension of the impact this causes victims of burglary. I hope the victim will move forward whereas Lake will be spending this Christmas behind bars where he belongs.”