Lowestoft teenager jailed for burglary

DETECTIVES battling to beat the burglars in Lowestoft reiterated their warnings to local offenders this week that they 'can expect to serve time in prison' if they persist in committing crime.

It comes after a Lowestoft teenager was jailed for six months after breaching the terms of a sentence for house burglary and being caught by police after attempting to break into a vehicle.

The 17-year-old boy - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was originally sentenced to a youth rehabilitation order in August last year after pleading guilty to a burglary at a home in Ashfield Crescent in Lowestoft on April 30.

He was also subject to a supervision requirement and was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work. However he failed to comply with these requirements.

In November police received a report of an attempted theft from a motor vehicle at Southfield Gardens and he was named as a suspect for the crime however, knowing he was wanted, he deliberately tried to evade officers.

He was arrested in the early hours of December 23, subsequently charged with the attempted theft and put before the court. He was then detained in custody for a week over Christmas before being given bail but is today back behind bars after being sentenced to six months at Lowestoft Youth Court on Wednesday <5>.

Detective Inspector Darrell Skuse said; 'This jailing represents another success in tackling house burglary offences in Lowestoft. The teenager was originally sentenced for a home burglary where jewellery and other items worth over �2,000 were taken but he failed to comply with the conditions and was subsequently also arrested and charged in connection with an attempted theft from a van.

'Now, having failed to take the chance handed to him by the court, he is facing weeks in a young offenders institute.

'We will continue to target those suspected of burglary offences and they can also expect to serve time in prison if they persist in committing crime.'