A thief who stole cigarettes worth £11,000 from a petrol station in Chester was caught after police found a till receipt left at the scene of the crime.
Back in February staff at the Caldy Valley Road Sainsbury’s forecourt found a wall of the site’s shop had been smashed through, with metal wall plates and bricks removed, and the tobacco display cabinet raided.
Police discovered a shopping receipt at the scene and, after liaising with the shop it was issued by, traced the shopping as having been taken to the home of Stefan Moores in a ‘bag for life’.
Moores was seen leaving his address on February 17, the night of the robbery, carrying the same bag, and when he returned to his address in the early hours of March 18 he did not have the bag in his possession. Footprints found at the scene also matched Moores’ shoes.
Moores, 36 and of Stockport, pleaded guilty to burglary other than a dwelling, and was given a 40-month sentence by Chester Crown Court.
PC James Wright commented: “Moores kindly left a piece of important evidence at the scene of his crime, leading our officers straight to him.
“He committed the offence while on prison licence after being released from prison for a similar offence committed in Chester in 2023.
“I welcome the substantial custodial sentence handed to him which reflects the severity of his crime and the fact that he has clearly not learnt his lesson.”
