Burglars who targeted small businesses in Faversham and east Kent jailed

Two burglars who targeted small businesses and a charity in Faversham and east Kent have been jailed for a total of more than five and a half years.

Lee Owen, 43, and Liam Scott, 23, were both charged with conspiracy to burgle following an investigation by Kent Police's Chief Constable's Crime Squad.

Owen, of no fixed address, was jailed for three years, four months, following a trial in which he denied the offence and Scott, of Lower Road, Faversham, got two years, five months after pleading guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday 14 October 2022.

Detectives showed the two men were behind 12 break-ins and one attempt between November 2021 and January 2022.

The first offence took place in Church Street, Whitstable on the evening of Thursday 11 November 2021, when a small business was broken into and cash stolen.

Another business was broken into in Seasalter on 20 December that year, with cash, speakers and headphones stolen.

In the early hours of 1 January 2022, Owen and Scott burgled two businesses in the Jubilee Way area of Faversham, again taking cash, and attempted to enter a third.

On the 5 January, they targeted two further businesses in Herne Bay, before two businesses in Aylesham, one in Ash and a takeaway and a charity in Faversham were broken into later that month.

The Chief Constable's Crime Squad pieced together CCTV footage from the scenes, before arresting both men in February. Clothes were found which linked them both to the burglaries.

Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson said: 'I’d like to commend the local shop keepers who assisted my team with this investigation, despite huge losses to their businesses their support meant Owen and Scott were identified and brought to justice.

'My team work to track down repeat burglars like Owen and Scott and bring them to justice for their crimes.

'The number of offences we showed they were behind has led to these jail terms, which will protect businesses in the area from their attention in future.'