Six years behind bars for Christmas present burglar - The Solihull Observer

Six years behind bars for Christmas present burglar

Solihull Editorial 17th Aug, 2015 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

A PROLIFIC Acocks Green burglar who went on a Christmas crime spree has been jailed for six years.

Christopher Straker, of Tavistock Road, has been handed the sentence after burgling five homes – four in Moseley and one in Edgbaston – on December 22, 2015.

The 32-year-old stole Christmas presents, a £400 television and a laptop from two properties in Admiral Place; jewellery worth £5,000, a television, two laptops and two games consoles from a house in Mount Close; and Christmas presents and two laptops from an address in Sovereign Way.

He also burgled a home on Garretts Green Lane in Sheldon on December 19 where he swiped electrical items and keys to a Ford KA which he then used to carry all the items he stole in the burglaries he committed three days later.




Straker was caught after being spotted by witnesses leaving the two houses in Admiral Place and getting into the Ford KA – the descriptions given matching those officers already had of Straker, who was known to them through his history of offending.

He was charged with six burglaries, car theft and assaulting a police officer during his arrest along with 11 other burglary offences – admitting the assault at an earlier hearing but denying all other charges against him.


But following a week-long trial, he was found guilty of the seven offences and was sentenced to six years behind bars.

Detective Constable Kate Watts said: “Straker is a prolific and heartless thief who has no qualms about breaking into people’s homes in the night and stealing presents meant for others.

“We’re satisfied with the sentence handed to Straker and the public should be reassured their gifts and belongings will be safe from his clutches for the next few Christmases to come.”

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