A man stole more than £66k worth of iPhones, iPads and AirPods from an O2 phone shop after drilling holes into the stockroom wall.
Grant Leigh, 30, of Stamford Square, Ashton-Under-Lyne broke into the unit next to the O2 phone shop at Cheshire Oaks, on October 2, 2021 and made holes in the adjoining wall.
He then came back the next day and climbed his way through the hole and into O2's stock room.
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Once there he took a number of iPhones, iPads, AirPods and other electronic devices believed to be worth around £66,163.38 from the shelves.
Forensic work revealed blood left at the scene was a direct DNA match for Leigh.
On October 20, 2021, officers, supported by Greater Manchester Police conducted a warrant at an address in Hyde.
He attempted to flee from officers by jumping out a first floor window into the back garden. He was arrested in a house nearby.
Leigh was charged with burglary and was remanded into custody.
The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to burglary at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday, February 1 and was jailed for three years.
Police Constable Lee Ashbrook, of Ellesmere Port Proactive team, said: “Leigh thought his plan was faultless and meticulously planned his crime with the aim of taking thousands of pounds worth of items.
“He did everything he could to evade justice – little did he know that he had left DNA at the scene and was spotted on CCTV cameras.
“As a result of the evidence we were able to gather against him he had no choice but to plead guilty to the charges against him and is now facing the consequences of his actions behind bars.”
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