A notorious burglar has been jailed after police set a trap for him at a seaside hotel where he had struck five times before.
Robert Smith is one of Britain's most prolific criminals with convictions for 158 burglaries at homes, shops or hotels.
He carried out a three month spree of raids around Torbay which targeted pensioners on autumn breaks and left hoteliers worried that his thefts would damage the resort's reputation.
Smith, aged 51, of Newton Road, Torquay, admitted two burglaries and asked for 13 more to be considered. He was jailed for three years and six months by Judge Erik Salomonsen at Exeter Crown Court.
The Judge said Smith's record meant he had a public duty to impose an immediate jail term.
He said:"The police in Torbay became aware of numerous hotel rooms being burgled when guests were out. Police laid a trap and you walked into it and to tour credit you have made a clean breast of it.
"These offences were carried out at a time of year when guests tend to be retired or elderly people. At least one hotelier worried about his reputation and more generally that of Torbay in general.
"You are a very experienced burglar; one of the most experienced to come before this court. You have targeted hotels before."
Mr David Bowen, prosecuting, said all 15 raids took place in Torquay, Brixham and Paignton between September and December last year, when most hotel guests were pensioners.
He raided seven different hotels, entering rooms through windows next to external fire escapes while guests were out and stealing a total of £2,150 in cash and valuables.
Mr Bowen said:"Hoteliers were concerned about the reputation of Torbay in general and on December 5 police laid a trap at the Berry Head Hotel where there had been a number of previous burglaries.
"The pattern of his offending was clear and he was caught leaving the hotel with the bag the officers had placed in the hotel room. In effect, he was caught red handed."
He said Smith had convictions for 92 offences but when those taken into consideration in the past were included, he had committed 143 burglaries before these new cases.
Mr Paul Dentith, defending, said at the time of the raids Smith was trying to go straight and was caring for a house bound partner. A claim for disability benefits was mislaid and he acted out of financial desperation.
↧