Police reunited a victim with precious personal belongings within an hour of the theft of his car.
The vehicle was stolen from outside the man’s home in Clifton, Nottingham, on Saturday (4 October) around 9pm.
Officers from the force’s road crime team made use of ANPR cameras and a police helicopter to track down the stolen vehicle and it was stopped in Listowel Crescent.
Garry Askey was arrested at the scene and found to have jewellery, the victim’s bank cards and cash, along with a quantity of cocaine, in his jacket pockets.
The 40-year-old, of Clarewood Grove, Nottingham, went on to plead guilty in court to theft of a motor vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle, driving without a licence or insurance and possession of a Class A drug.
He also admitted theft from a shop after stealing salmon from a store in Compton Acres, West Bridgford, on 16 September.
Askey was handed a community order with a rehabilitation requirement at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday (6 October).
Officers recovered the bank cards, distinctive Nigerian jewellery, Nigerian bank notes and a number of personal documents belonging to the victim and his family which were safely returned.
Sergeant Dave Schooling, of the force’s road crime team, said:
“We were quickly able to recover this vehicle and all the irreplaceable items within it thanks to a coordinated response and the use of a police helicopter.
“I have no doubt that without our rapid recovery of the vehicle it would have been stripped, emptied and the owner would not have seen the contents again.
“The victim was relieved and extremely thankful for our efforts.”
