Cambridge burglar caught after leaving DNA on beer can
He smashed the front door of a café and stole cash from the till
A burglar who broke into a café in Cambridge and stole cash from the till has been caught after leaving behind a beer can containing his DNA.
Darren Scales, 57, with no fixed address, smashed through the front door of Café Au Chocolat on Green Street on 1st September, taking £150 from the till.
He was also captured on CCTV breaking into Custom Ink Tattooing on Victoria Avenue, where he smashed through the front door and stole a cashbox containing over £750.
A week later, on 30th September, Scales committed another burglary in King’s Parade, stealing £500 worth of vapes.
He then targeted Waterstones on Sidney Street on 15th October, forcing his way into the tills to steal charity boxes.
Additionally, Scales shoplifted meat and alcohol from Tesco, Marks and Spencer, and Co-op on 4th October.
At Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 30th October, he was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of burglary and three counts of shop theft.
PC Samantha Chapman from the Acquisitive Crime Team said, “Burglary has a real impact on businesses, from the financial loss to the damage and disruption caused."
"In this case, CCTV and a beer can left behind provided valuable evidence. He is now facing the consequences of his actions with a year behind bars."