Burglars jailed after raid on Horsham businesses

Two men who carried out a campaign of commercial burglaries in three counties have been jailed, Sussex Police confirmed this week.
Springfield House in Horsham was targeted by the burglarsSpringfield House in Horsham was targeted by the burglars
Springfield House in Horsham was targeted by the burglars

Andrew Richard Lewin, 43, unemployed, of Eldon Road, Caterham, Surrey, and Gary Roland Reilly, 51, a railway worker, of Purley Vale, Purley, Surrey, were arrested in Guildford on Sunday, December 30.

Police said both men pleaded guilty to being jointly concerned in several commercial thefts in which computers, a TV and some Champagne were snatched.

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They admitted entering offices at Springfield House in Springfield Road, Horsham, on November 20 last year and stealing a quantity of Dell laptops and a bottle of Champagne.

On the same date and at the same location they also tried to enter offices of Ansys and Kreston Reeves with intent to steal, according to police.

On December 27 the pair hit the the Chichester Enterprise Centre in Terminus Road.

They entered Dropship Spy Ltd and stole a Samsung TV and broke into New World Ltd and stole a Samsung mobile phone.

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They also admitted entering Oak Construction Ltd and stealing an IBM computer, entering Rodd Brown Ltd and stealing a Lenovo laptop.

Police said the pair entered Arkle Acquisitions Ltd and stole a cashbox containing £20 cash, entered Book Folly Ltd with intent to steal and entered Springhouse Solicitors with intent to steal.

The next day the pair admitted entering Data 2 Basepoint, Caxton Close, Portway, Andover, Hampshire, stealing an unknown number of laptops.

Following the guilty pleas, Detective Sergeant Jason Vickers, of Sussex Police, said: “This was a complex case involving investigations by officers across three counties, but close co-operation and dedicated police work has resulted in these persistent offenders being brought before justices and admitting their crimes.”

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Reilly was jailed for four years, made up of four years on each of the 13 offences, all to run concurrently, according to the CPS.

Lewin was jailed for four years and three months – made up of four years on each of the 12 offences to run concurrently, with a suspended sentence order activated in full, which was three months to run consecutively, the CPS said.