St Albans man and woman charged with thefts from motor vehicles

Two people from Sandridge have been charged in connections with thefts from motor vehicles in St Albans.

Karen Dunne, 39, was charged with two counts of interfering with a vehicle and one count of stealing a lighter.

Simon Speer, 35, was also charged with two counts of interfering with a vehicle and theft of a lighter, as well as handling a stolen bank card and two counts of using a stolen bank card.

The pair, both from Langley Grove, were arrested in the Waverley Road in the early hours of Wednesday, June 20. They were arrested after police introduced proactive patrols following reports of thefts from cars.

They appeared at St Albans magistrates’ court on Friday, June 22. Dunne pleaded not guilty and was released on bail until her next court hearing, while Speer pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Det Insp Alex Warwick, from the St Albans Local Crime Unit, said: “We are continuing to respond to the thefts from motor vehicles that have occurred in St Albans and the surrounding district recently. There will be increased patrols as well as on going covert operations targeting offenders.

“Many of the thefts recently have not involved any kind of forced entry to vehicles. The offenders have been able to gain access because they have been left unlocked.

“I would like to remind residents to secure their vehicles when they leave them unattended and to remove any property from within to help discourage offenders from targeting the vehicle.”