Man jailed for burglary and thefts in Congleton and Macclesfield

A man has been jailed for burglary and theft in Congleton and Macclesfield.

Michael Smart, 47, from Great King Street in Macclesfield, appeared at Chester Crown Court on 6th August to be sentenced after being found guilty of theft by finding, burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced to three years in prison. He also had to pay a surcharge of £228.

The court heard that on 12th November 2023 Smart stole a collection bottle containing around £250 from St Albans Church in Chester Road, Macclesfield. He was identified on CCTV by a local officer as the person responsible.

On 13th November Smart stole a Hyundai Tucson from Highbank Road in Congleton on 13th November 2023. The car was fitted with a tracker which recorded five separate trips and finally its location in Longacre Street in Macclesfield.

Police and the victim attended and the car, which had been damaged, was taken to be forensically tested. A positive DNA match came back to Smart. There was no good reason for his DNA to be on the car as he was not known to the victim.

He was circulated as wanted.

On 19th December 2023 he entered a house in Bath Vale Cottages, Bath Vale in Congleton at around 4.45am.

The victim remembered milk was due to be delivered but it wasn’t on the doorstep so checked the doorbell camera. It showed Smart entering the property and then leaving with the bottle of milk which was on the doorstep.

They then discovered the credit card had been stolen when the company contacted them to flag unusual activity on the card. Two transactions at a vape shop and five PayPoint transactions as well as two transactions at a jewellers.

The officer attended reviewed the doorbell footage and identified Smart.

The card was used by another man, Jordan Forster, 27, of no fixed address who was identified through CCTV at the jewellers and the vape shop making the transactions with the stolen card

He earlier pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods and fraud by false representation at Crewe Magistrates Court. He appeared on 25th February and was handed a four week prison sentence suspended for 12 months along with a £150 surcharge.

PC Charlotte Owen said:

“This case really does highlight the benefit of CCTV and doorbell footage. Our enquiries and the local knowledge of our officers led us to identify who was responsible for these crimes and put them before the courts.

“We hope that this goes as a warning to would-be thieves.”

Pictured - Michael Smart from Great King Street in Macclesfield.