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Thief used Google Earth in roof raids
Evening Standard21 Apr 2009
A CRIMINAL who used Google Earth to zoom in on historic buildings before stripping lead from their roofs has been jailed — weeks after being spared prison by magistrates.
Tom Berge, 27, from Thornton Heath, admitted stealing £100,000 of lead in 30 roof raids and was given a suspended sentence last month.
But he was caught three weeks later on a roof near Cheam in Surrey. He was sentenced to a year in jail at Sutton magistrates' court.
Reader views (5)
Why do so many insist on ignoring recidivism rates??
The romanticized era of "Oh, the lad has learned his lesson now, he'll not offend again!" is long gone - if it ever existed to begin with.
- Trunk, US, 22/04/2009 02:14
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What a wonderful justice system
- John (Brit Exp), Phoenix, 21/04/2009 23:52
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Obviously the guy was "Plumb" stupid!
GERONIMO
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX, 21/04/2009 23:29
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Very enterprising. The lead has gone missing from our local roofs but we don't live in historic buildings - shouldn't they have some kind of security?
- Real, London, 21/04/2009 22:42
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".. weeks after being spared prison by magistrates."
Figures. Surprised the officers weren't reprimanded for arresting him.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 21/04/2009 15:41
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