A thief from Hackney has been sentenced to 25 weeks in prison after embarking on a bizarre crime spree across Cheshire, stealing unusual items including lawn balls and scout badges from vehicles.
Strange stolen items revealed
Fabio Coelho, aged 40 and from Goodchild Road in East London, targeted multiple vehicles in the affluent Cheshire towns of Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Handforth between August 19 and September 1 this year. His haul included not only typical stolen goods like bank cards, cash and power tools, but also more unusual items such as Wii Sports games, sunglasses, and surprisingly, lawn balls and scout badges.
Bold fraud attempts captured
The investigation by Cheshire Police revealed that Coelho didn't stop at simply stealing items. He brazenly used one of the stolen bank cards at multiple shops and service stations in the Wythenshawe area until the card was eventually refused by retailers.
Police built their case using extensive CCTV evidence and doorbell camera footage that captured Coelho trying car doors across the three towns during his crime spree. Facial recognition technology played a crucial role in identifying the 40-year-old, leading to his subsequent arrest.
Court sentencing and restrictions
At Crewe Magistrates' Court on November 4, Coelho pleaded guilty to multiple offences including:
- Six counts of theft from a motor vehicle
- Six counts of vehicle interference
- One count of fraud
In addition to his 25-week prison sentence, Coelho received a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order that specifically bans him from entering Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Handforth.
PC Madi Forrest from the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Policing Team commented on the case: "He took anything and everything he could during his crime spree, CCTV recording his crimes as he went. This investigation shows just how vital having CCTV and doorbell cameras are in our determined fight against crime."
The police officer emphasised that any crime impacting local communities is taken seriously, adding: "I hope this sends a strong message to other would-be thieves that targeting Cheshire is just not worth the risk."
