Four Jailed For St Ives Burglary

31 May 2011, 13:39 | Updated: 31 May 2011, 15:33

Four burglars who were caught on police helicopter camera after raiding a home in St Ives have been jailed.

Police were called to reports of a break-in in progress at about 2pm on April 29 in East Street, Colne.

Officers attended but Robert Moss, 22, from Edmonton, London, Paul Gumble, 23, of Huntingdon Road, Chatteris, Vince Ryder, 21, from Epping, Essex, and a 21-year-old man from Maldon, had already made off in a Volkswagen Golf.

The police helicopter was called to the scene and following a quick search of the area, traced the car as it made off towards Chatteris.

Footage from the helicopter clearly showed bags of jewellery and other property being thrown out of the moving vehicle.

Moss, Gumble and the 21-year-old man jumped out of the car at Westbourne Road, Chatteris, and ran off but Moss and Gumble were quickly arrested.

Ryder took over the driving and tried to flee the scene before eventually abandoning the car and making a run for it over several fences and hedges. But an officer gave chase and tackled him in nearby London Road, Chatteris.

The 21-year-old man, from Maldon, Essex, was arrested a few days later following police investigations.

All four pleaded guilty to burglary. Gumble and Ryder also admitted driving while disqualified and driving with no insurance.

Ryder was sentenced to six months for burglary and six months for driving whilst disqualified, to run concurrently. He was also given a 12 month driving ban.

Moss was sentenced to six months for burglary and two months for a breach of a community order, to run consecutively.

Gumble was sentenced to six months for burglary and six months for driving whilst disqualified, to run concurrently. He was also given a 12 month driving ban.

The 21-year-old man was sentenced to six months for burglary, suspended for 12 months, given a community order for 18 months, givem 150 hours unpaid work and £85 court costs.

Detective Constable Sharon Popple said: "This case shows the value of the helicopter in tracing offenders who had probably thought they had made a clean getaway.

"The crew were able to direct officers on the ground straight to the offenders and meant we could quickly arrest those responsible and return the stolen property to its rightful owner.

"The footage also clearly showed Gumble and Ryder behind the wheel of the car despite being disqualified drivers."

Picture (c) Cambridgeshire Police.