Lipson Man Jailed for Stealing £5,000 of Cigarettes and Scratch Cards in Plymouth Shop Burglary

A Plymouth burglar who stole £5,000 worth of cigarettes and scratch cards on Christmas Eve has been jailed for 16 months following a forensic investigation by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Luke Evans, 41, of Beatrice Avenue, Lipson, Plymouth, targeted the One Stop Shop on Radford Park Road in Plymstock during the early hours of Christmas Eve. Evans broke into the store and emptied the gantry of high-value tobacco products and scratch cards. The court heard that this burglary followed another break-in committed by Evans just one day prior, on December 23, at a pharmacy in Devonport, where he stole a quantity of controlled prescription drugs.

Police investigators were able to identify and apprehend Evans through a combination of local CCTV analysis and forensic DNA profiling from blood left at the scene of the crimes. Faced with the overwhelming evidence, Evans pleaded guilty to two counts of commercial burglary at Plymouth Magistrates' Court.

During his sentencing at Plymouth Crown Court, the judge handed Evans concurrent 16-month prison sentences for each break-in. In addition to his custodial sentence, Evans was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £187. Retail groups have welcomed the sentence, highlighting the impact of high-value thefts on local businesses and convenience store employees during the festive season.