A man that stole a large amount of cash from a car in Bildeston has been jailed for three years after a series of other thefts and burglaries in Suffolk and neighbouring counties.

21 year old Wesley Maughan of Southernhay in Basildon was convicted at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday 11 November after he pleaded guilty to six theft offences as well as two burglary offences.

This was an investigation into a multi-county theft series, including Norfolk and Suffolk where victims were followed after withdrawing money from the bank and then had their vehicles broken into and the cash stolen.

Officers from the Serious Crime Disruption Team were able to identify and link the series and secure a case against Maughan to justice.

He was arrested on 23 June this year and was subsequently charged that between 7 May 2020 and 25 February 2021 in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex conspired together with other persons to steal cash of a value unknown belonging to others.

Maughan struck in Bildeston on 26 October 2020, when the victim withdrew a large amount of cash from a bank in Ipswich and then parked his car in the village for about 45 minutes leaving the car locked.

Upon the victim returning back to his car and driving home he has found that the cash has been stolen.

In another incident on 1 December 2020 on Renfrew Road in Ipswich the victim arrived back at his van to find front driver's window smashed and £4200 in £20 notes, passport and laptop stolen from behind driver's seat.

DC Phillip King from the Serious Crime Disruption Team said: "Maughan would typically follow his victims in vehicles after they leave banks with large sums of cash.

"Once the victim parked up their vehicle he would force entry and take the cash. This conviction is a timely reminder to all vehicle owners not to leave cash and valuables in vehicles at any time – don't give opportunistic criminals the chance to steal your property."