Burglar jailed after targeting children’s hospice charity

A burglar who targeted a children’s hospice charity’s shop has been jailed for nearly three years.

East Anglia Children’s Hospices (EACH) charity shop in Harwich, Essex, was one of several businesses impacted by a crime spree carried out by homeless man Luke Harvey, aged 32, earlier this year.

He admitted each of the seven charges of burglary and was jailed for two years and 11 months when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court earlier this month.

For each burglary he received a five-month custodial sentence to run consecutively.

Harvey as also made the subject of a criminal behaviour order banning him from entering the Harwich and Dovercourt areas in Essex for three years.

A spokesperson for the charity thanked Essex Police for investigating the incidents and bringing Harvey to justice.

"We were very sad and extremely disappointed to be the victims of this break-in,” they said.

"Our retail operation is a vital source of income and helps us provide the best possible care and support to children and families across the region.

"This year alone, we need to raise £9.8 million from our shop and online sales, and just 15% of our total income comes from the government, county councils and the NHS.

"Incidents of this nature are therefore disheartening, but we are grateful for the swift action and co-operation of Essex Police."

Hair salons, restaurants and florists were among others he targeted in the Harwich Area.

During his spree items and cash were stolen and at one business an entire till was taken. Essex Police also said that “substantial damage” was causes to businesses.

PC Daniel Bush of the Tendring Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Throughout this investigation, we were well aware of the immeasurable impact on our hard-working businesses in the wider Harwich area.

"Some businesses have been targeted on more than one occasion, and some have spoken of the difficulty in even resuming their trade after suffering these break-ins.

"This is unacceptable to me personally and to all of our team. I want to be really clear that we are here to work with our businesses and protect them as best we can.

"This means building solid cases against those criminals who think, wrongly, they can get away with offences like burglary. These offences are a priority for our team.”