‘Guide Dog’ helps catch Solihull Station Christmas Day burglar after …
A ‘Guide Dog’ seized from a West Midlands station has helped lead to the arrest and conviction of a callous burglar who raided the site at Christmas[1]. Christopher Mann smashed his way into Solihull[2] Station early in the morning on Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25) last year breaking into the waiting room at around 3am.
He then forced open a Guide Dogs for the Blind charity collection box and stole its contents. The heartless 42-year-old then broke into the station’s café, again smashing a window to get in.
He stole food from the café and fled the scene. The theft and damage he caused came to £1,018.04. But the festive thief was careless and left a blood sample on the ‘Guide Dog’.
The British Transport Police Birmingham team Tweeted days after the offence and quipped: “The great lengths we go too, to secure evidence & COLLAR criminals operating on the railway network
“You must think we are BARKING mad but have seized this dog (it’s not real don’t worry) for forensics following a LEAD after a burglary reported.”
The blood sample was sent away for analysis and came back as a ‘forensic hit’ with a match. That blood match and CCTV footage led to Mann, of Warwick Road in Acocks Green,[4] Birmingham,[5] being arrested on Saturday, April 22.
A blood sample left by Christopher Mann on a Guide Dogs charity collection box at Solihull Station helped nab him for stealing from it, smashing into the station and thieving from its cafe (Image: British Transport Police Birmingham)
He was then charged with burglary and found guilty at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court[6] on April 24. He has now been jailed for 24 weeks, 16 weeks for the Solihull Station break-in and a further eight weeks for offences brought by West Midlands Police[7].
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “It is particularly callous that on Christmas Day of all days, Mann could be selfish enough to steal money from a charity collection box. Whatever the day of year, we treat offenders like him with the utmost seriousness and will always take action.
“Mann demonstrated complete disregard for the property damaged which is completely unacceptable. Thankfully he’ll now have plenty of time to think about his actions in prison.
“Anyone with information about crime on the rail network is asked to text British Transport police on 61016 or telephone 0800 40 50 40. Our Railway Guardian app is also free to download. Always call 999 in an emergency.”
Sign up for the MySolihull newsletter to get news from across the borough delivered to your inbox for free[8]
‘Car cannibalism’ arrest after Ford Fiesta stripped[9]
‘Iconic’ bus driver retires at 75 with guard of honour[10]
Why potholes and tourism are priorities for Solihull Council[11]
Plan for 5G mast ‘in someone’s back garden’ thrown out[12]
Birmingham Airport details big changes as key services moved for £40m scheme[13]
References
- ^ Christmas (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Solihull (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ ‘Chaotic’ school accused of ‘blaming kids for poor Ofsted report’ (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Acocks Green, (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham, (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham Magistrates’ Court (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ West Midlands Police (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Sign up for the MySolihull newsletter to get news from across the borough delivered to your inbox for free (data.reachplc.com)
- ^ ‘Car cannibalism’ arrest after Ford Fiesta stripped (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ ‘Iconic’ bus driver retires at 75 with guard of honour (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Why potholes and tourism are priorities for Solihull Council (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Plan for 5G mast ‘in someone’s back garden’ thrown out (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham Airport details big changes as key services moved for £40m scheme (www.birminghammail.co.uk)