FOUR men have been sentenced for their part in a spate of tobacco burglaries across Notts and Leicestershire after a crackdown by a specialist police team.
Notts Police set up Operation Donjon after a series of incidents where stolen cars were used as getaway vehicles in shop burglaries which targeted the theft of cigarettes.
They were first identified by CCTV at a house they broke into in Costock.
They were then linked to the other crimes by their methods and use of the same stolen vehicles.
They were pictured on CCTV during a burglary at a One-Stop shop in Newark. Cigarettes from this incident were found in the boot of a stolen vehicle.
Their spree came to an end in Leicestershire on July 7 when they were arrested shortly after a shop burglary.
Detective Inspector Kev Broadhead, who is leading the ongoing operation, said Christopher Hall, 19, was Donjon's "number one target".
Mr Broadhead said: "His arrest was a massive breakthrough in the inquiry. Since the arrests of all four men, the number of incidents of this kind have decreased dramatically.
"But while the results mean they are now out of the equation, there are others and we will now simply move down to the next target on our list."
At Leicester Crown Court Hall, of Ennis Close in Derby, admitted eight burglary and theft offences, and asked a further two offences to be taken into consideration by the judge.
He was sentenced to three years, nine months behind bars.
Also sentenced were three Notts men:
Nathan Morgan, 18, of Chatham Court in Newark. He admitted four burglary and theft offences, as well as the assault of a detention officer while in police custody. He was given one year, nine months in custody.
Shaun Watt, 19, of Lombard Street in Newark. He admitted five burglary and theft offences. He received one year, three months in custody.
Christopher Wilson, aged 33, of Wolsey Road in Newark. He admitted two shop burglaries involving cigarettes in Leicestershire and was sent to jail for 12 months.
As Operation Donjon continues, Notts Police are using "capture shops" in Notts, fitted with recording equipment and forensically-marked property.
People are also being asked to look out for anyone trying to sell large quantities of cigarettes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Notts Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
