Man Jailed For Stealing From Unlocked Cars

A 34 year old man has been jailed for 12 months for stealing from six parked cars and trying to steal from 23 others.

Paulo Dinarte Martins Cardoso committed the spate of thefts across St Brelade, St Peter and St Mary committed in February and March 2021.

He also stole a bike and - whilst on bail - scaled the airport fence and was arrested on the runway last July.

Cardoso was spotted walking on the runway by air traffic controllers who had to radio an incoming British Airways flight and get it to abort its landing.

In addition to the six thefts and 23 attempted thefts from parked vehicles, he was also charged under the island's aviation laws for 'obstructing or interfering with the proper use' of the runway.

Cardoso was found guilty of the offences in Jersey's Magistrate's Court last November.

Police are urging motorists not to leave themselves at risk of opportunist thieves by locking their vehicles and not leaving valuables in them, especially overnight.

"This was a hefty spate of thefts from a fairly rural area and thankfully Cardoso was identified soon after reports came into [the] Police. Opportunist criminals will often see unlocked vehicles as an easy target. We would urge people to lock their vehicles and not to leave valuable items in their cars or vans, especially when parked overnight." - DC Jeremy Percival, States of Jersey Police