Shropshire Star

Ludlow burglar's boots link him to crime scene

A burglar who targeted a property in Ludlow town centre was linked to his crime and traced by police – thanks to his boots.

Published

John Richards was identified as a suspect by police after green SmartWater liquid was found on his footwear.

The same liquid had been coated on items taken from a property in Mill Street.

The 39-year-old, of Dinham, Ludlow, was arrested and has since been handed an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months at court. He was also ordered to do 100 hours community service and pay £1,000 costs and fines.

It is the first success of a policing operation launched in south Shropshire following a series of burglaries in Ludlow and surrounding villages.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Harding of West Mercia Police said: "Across the West Mercia and Warwickshire policing areas we are taking a proactive approach to tackling burglary. This is one success and we will continue to work with residents to send out a strong messages to would-be burglars that they are not welcome in our towns, cities and villages."

The operation is part of the force's We Don't Buy Crime campaign, which is being run in partnership with SmartWater and targets all types of acquisitive crime.

DCI Harding said: "We want these arrests to send a clear message to burglars that we are using technology to its full potential to bring to justice those who commit burglary, not just in Ludlow, but across the policing area. Burglars will not discriminate between targeting homes and businesses. Our partnership with SmartWater is based around the success-rate of their technology to help us catch and convict burglars who prey on homes and businesses.

"There is strong evidence to suggest that thieves will avoid targeting premises if they know SmartWater is in use, because the evidence it provides linking a burglar back to a crime scene is overwhelming."

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