Newark officers caught a Pokémon card thief and brought him before the courts this week.
Benjamin Young admitted to multiple offences on Thursday (7 May) – a day after being arrested.
These included a break-in where Young helped himself to stacks of gaming cards from a restaurant.
He smashed a glass cabinet during the Newark burglary before taking the Pokémon and Dragon Ball cards inside.
Young also stole electrical products, food, and drink from the Paxtons Court-based business during the 5 April break-in.
His decision to do what he did – breaking a window in the process – left the restaurant owners more than £2,000 out of pocket.
Young’s thieving wasn’t an isolated incident, though, with the 47-year-old also responsible for 10 shop thefts from March to May.
All these offences took place across the Newark area, with one of the thefts happening on 5 April – the same day as the burglary.
Seven shops were targeted by Young in total, with the thief stealing a mixture of alcohol, food, washing-up products, and clothes.
Young had already been charged and bailed for the first five thefts but decided not to attend court as directed on 10 April.
With his face already known to Newark officers, police then linked Young to his further offences and arrested him again on Wednesday (6 May).
He faced the music this time, attending Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to the burglary and 10 counts of shop theft.
Young, of Barrows Gate, Newark, was duly remanded into custody, where he will remain until he is sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on 28 May.
Inspector Charlotte Ellam, District Commander for Newark and Sherwood, said:
“This isn’t the first time Benjamin Young has found himself in trouble for stealing in our town.
“He’s a prolific thief responsible for numerous shop thefts and clearly thinks the laws don’t apply to him.
“Young targeted seven shops during this spree, while also leaving a restaurant more than £2,000 out of pocket when he decided to burgle the business.
“This type of behaviour will never be acceptable, and we will always look to do everything in our power to put offenders like Young before the courts.”
