Burglar jailed for two high-value Lancashire break-ins
He's been jailed for three years and one month
A man who burgled two properties in Lancashire and tried to sell stolen items to an off-duty police chief inspector has been jailed .
Jamie Higginson burgled a flat above a restaurant in Poulton, and Harlequin Games in Preston, which sells rare playing cards and gaming merchandise.
He stole hundreds of bottles of alcohol worth £5,000 from the flat in April last year, which was used to store the restaurant's stock.
Higginson then went on to try and sell the bottles in a supermarket car park, before coming across an off duty police chief inspector.
The off duty officer called in colleagues to arrest him after being offered the bottles for sale.
Higginson also stole stock worth between £20,000 and £30,000 from Harlequin Games after smashing in a side window in February this year.
Higginson, 28, of no fixed address, has been jailed for three years and one month after pleading guilty to:
- burglary of a dwelling (the flat in Poulton-le-Fylde)
- burglary of Harlequin Games
- and criminal damage (as he smashed the window and dislodged the door at Harlequin Games)
He's also been given a restraining order which bans him from going to Harlequin Games.
PC Ryan Wilson of Preston Police, said: “Higginson targeted a home and businesses of good, hard-working people when he committed these burglaries.
“The 37-month prison sentence shows how seriously the court viewed his offending.
“I would like to thank the support of the Lancashire public for their engagement when Higginson was circulated as wanted earlier this year.”