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Thief who stole car from Highways Auto Centre in Hacklinge caught on CCTV

By: Liane Castle lcastle@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 22 August 2022

Updated: 14:29, 22 August 2022

A thief who stole a car, toilet roll and tea bags from a family-run garage has been caught on CCTV.

Highways Auto Centre in Hacklinge, near Deal, had only been open for a fortnight when it was targeted last week.

Owner Jamie Luck said: "It has made me feel sick to the stomach.

"We have just opened a brand-new business and this happens in the first two weeks. It's shocking."

CCTV shows the break-in happened just after midnight on Monday, August 15.

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He then returned in different clothes at around 6.30am.

Police say they received calls reporting the crime just before 8am.

He later returned in different clothes
The first break in happened just after midnight

Ritchie Holdsworth, 54, and of Honfleur Road, Sandwich, was arrested the same day and charged with two counts of burglary, taking a vehicle without consent, failing or refusing to provide a sample for a drugs test, and using a vehicle without insurance.

He appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to all offences.

He received an eight-month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months and was ordered to pay £1,050 compensation.

Investigating officer PC Ben Middleton of Dover local policing team said: "Burglary can be so upsetting for victims, so we are pleased on this occasion that we were able to identify the offender, arrest him and bring him before the courts within 24 hours of the report being made to Kent Police."

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The garage in Sandwich Road has been owned by the Luck family since 1989.

Until recently, it was leased to a tenant but two weeks ago the family, including the original owner's great grandsons, took back control.

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They had completely flattened the original garage and rebuilt the whole site.

The stolen items have now been returned.

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