Men Found With Stolen Goods Thanks To Quick Thinking Neighbour

Two men with a stolen car were tracked down thanks to the swift actions of a neighbour.

A resident in Fairview Grove, Swaffham Prior, raised the alarm on 11 November last year (2020) when she spotted a neighbour’s £30,000 Ford Focus being taken from the driveway.

Police tracked the vehicle, which was in convoy with a stolen Ford Fiesta, to Essex. The stolen Focus was abandoned and the police helicopter spotted Charlie Oakley attempting to discard items and hide. With the help of the police dog, Levi Mitchell was also found nearby hiding.

The pair were already wanted for being unlawfully at large after absconding from HMP North Sea Camp in July and October respectively.

At Cambridge Crown Court, Oakley, 28, of North Street, Burwell, was sentenced to a year and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods and escaping lawful custody.

Mitchell, 37, of Fern Hill Lane, Harlow, was sentenced to two years for the same charges.

Detective Constable Henry Longhurst said: “Unfortunately for this pair, the vehicle they were in was fitted with a tracker. That, along with the help of the victim’s neighbour, who acted on instincts and called us straight away, we were able to act swiftly to ensure they didn’t get far.”