Persistent burglar locked up

Michael Berry. Picture courtesy of Cheshire Police

A prolific burglar who targeted high value jewellery from houses in Oldham, Rochdale and Warrington has been jailed for three years.

Michael Berry, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary at Chester Crown Court.

The 22-year-old stole a camcorder and a printer from a house on Godson Street in Oldham on July 2, 2016 and a BMW from an address on Milberry Drive in Rochdale on September 1, 2016.  

Berry returned to Oldham to steal jewellery, a mobile phone, a digital camera and a baseball cap from a house in Kingsway Close on January 10, 2018 as well as three handbags to the value of £1,800 and jewellery worth £1,700 from a property in Denbydale Way on the same day.

On February 17, 2018 Berry was spotted on CCTV casing out a property on Dorchester Road while communicating on a walkie talkie and carrying a screwdriver.

Berry was arrested by Cheshire Police detectives on April 26, 2018 following a policing operation in Devon and Cornwall.

Cheshire Constabulary Detective Sergeant Nick Henderson said: “Berry is a persistent burglar who went to great lengths to conceal his crimes and thought he was untouchable. 

“Following a complex and thorough investigation by a dedicated team of detectives Berry’s crimes finally caught up with him and he is now behind bars facing the consequences of his actions.”

Berry was sentenced at Chester Crown Court on May 29, 2018.