The ‘professional’ thief repeatedly broke into an Asda warehouse
‘Seasoned’ offender Christopher Owen(Image: Hull Live)
A brazen “professional” burglar made a series of repeated raids inside a supermarket warehouse, escaping with hauls including 47 bottles of Budweiser beer, six tubs of chocolate spread and three Henry vacuum cleaners. “Seasoned” offender Christopher Owen was armed with a ball inside a sock when he also helped himself to bedding, two crates of lager, a boom box radio and two pairs of hair straighteners.
On his last raid of the warehouse, he was spotted, confronted and chased by a member of staff, Hull Crown Court heard. Owen, 41, of Ripon Way, east Hull, but recently in custody on remand, denied an offence of aggravated burglary on December 30 but he was convicted by a jury after a trial. He admitted burglary.
Amber Hobson, prosecuting, said that Owen repeatedly entered a warehouse at the Asda Mount Pleasant store in east Hull to steal items. The prosecution claimed that he was armed with a ball in a sock to help him “ward off any confrontation” in the warehouse.
“On his final trip into the store, he was confronted by a member of staff,” said Miss Hobson. Owen dropped the pile of goods that he had collected and threatened the man, swinging the weapon at him before he made his escape, it was claimed.
“He accepts that he burgled the Asda store,” said Miss Hobson. “He accepts that he stole various items. He accepts that he is the man in the CCTV footage.”
Owen claimed, however, that he had coins in the sock that he was carrying and that it was “some sort of makeshift purse” that he was seen holding. “He will claim that he did not swing this at anyone or threaten anyone,” said Miss Hobson.
“You might find it odd that he would take money with him when he was off to steal from the shop.” The court heard that Owen was identified by a female security guard from CCTV images. He was wearing an anorak-type coat with the hood up.
It was discovered that he had entered the warehouse on different occasions at 1.49am, 3.20am, 4.26am, 4.50am and 4.57am. On the last visit, he was in the warehouse for only two or three minutes before he was seen on CCTV pictures leaving through a fire exit while being chased by the member of staff.
It was claimed that there was a confrontation between the two men just seconds before Owen fled. A police officer told the court that Owen was found the same day at the “family home” where he was living at the time.
He was arrested and a haul of stolen goods from Asda was discovered. It included 47 bottles of Budweiser beer and six tubs of Asda chocolate spread.
There were three Henry vacuum cleaners, bedding, two crates of lager, a boom box radio and two pairs of straighteners as well as other items. During police interview, Owen made no comment to all questions.
Defence barrister Oliver Shipley claimed during the trial that, from CCTV pictures, there was no point during the nine-second incident involving the member of staff where Owen stopped and swung the sock, with the supposed ball inside it, at the man.
Mr Shipley told the man during cross-examination in court: “There appears to be some form of you trying to stop him. He just ran past you at some speed.”
Mr Shipley said of Owen: “He accepts holding a sock with money in it. He denies swinging the sock and the money pouch towards the member of staff and he denies being threatening. It’s not swung around.”
Owen had previous convictions for burglary and one for possessing an offensive weapon in 2024. After the guilty verdict on the charge of aggravated burglary, sentence was adjourned for reports but he faces a significant prison sentence.
Recorder Taryn Turner told the court: “This is a seasoned professional commercial burglar.” Owen was further remanded in custody.
At a separate hearing at Grimsby Crown Court in April last year, the court heard that impressive amateur detective skills trapped Owen after he thought it was his lucky day when he came across a rucksack packed with items, including iPads, laptops, cash, a wallet, a Nintendo Switch games console and a treasured wedding ring.
He shamelessly took the potentially lucrative haul home with him after claiming that he found the rucksack in a city street.
But he reckoned without the determination of a family whose home had earlier been burgled. They managed to locate where the stolen items were by using a tracker on an iPad, the court heard.
Owen admitted an offence of handling stolen goods. He also admitted fraud by using a bank card at an Esso garage. He had been cleared by a jury of burglary after an earlier trial.
Owen admitted finding the stolen goods when he was walking on Laburnum Avenue, Garden Village, east Hull, on June 16, 2024. He denied being involved in the burglary.
The wedding ring was never recovered but the other items were found by Humberside Police. Owen was, on that occasion, given a one-year community order, with 10 days’ rehabilitation.
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