A thief who stole tobacco and thousands of pounds in cash from shopkeepers has been jailed.

Nelson Ripley targeted business owners in Medway after visiting wholesalers in Rochester and Gillingham to stock up on cigarettes and tobacco.

Goods and cash worth £14,000 were stolen during a series of raids on traders visiting the premises in Courtenay Road in Gillingham and Laker Road in Rochester.

Ripley, 33, of Tonbridge Road, Maidstone admitted charges relating to five incidents between December 15, 2019 and January 20, 2020.

The first incident happened at the wholesalers in Rochester on December 15, 2019 when cigarettes and tobacco worth £1,000 were taken from a shop worker's car.

Four days later, a victim was searching the boot of their car when a man approached them from behind and snatched a bag containing more than £2,000 in cash.

On December 23, 2019 the gang stole £4,660 worth of items from a van unloading outside a shop in Chatham after the owner briefly left the vehicle unattended.

A shopowner from Strood was then targeted on January 10 on return to their business in Strood and parking up outside.

A man left a vehicle after following the businessman back to the shop before opening a passenger door to grab tobacco worth £3,000 and a bag which contained £2,000 in cash.

The final theft on January 20 saw a victim take back £3,500 worth of tobacco to their shop from the Gillingham wholesalers. As he unloaded the van, a man approached and snatched the items.

Now, Nelson Ripley has been jailed for two years and three months following a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court today.

His fellow conspirators Archie Ripley, 26 of McKillop Way, Sidcup, and Henry Ripley, 58, of Powerscroft Road, Sidcup are due to be sentenced at the same court on a date to be determined.

Archie Ripley admitted a charge of conspiracy to steal while Henry Ripley was found guilty of the same charge after a trial.

"A significant amount of planning had gone into each offence but, despite the offender’s best efforts, we were able to piece together the evidence"

The pair were arrested less than two hours after the final theft took place and were detained.

Officers from the Kent Police Chief Constable's Crime Squad identified a suspicious Ford Fiesta which was pulled over in Powerscroft Road, Sidcup and the pair were taken into custody.

Detectives then identified phones belonging to Nelson and Archie Ripley had been used at the scene of each of the offences.

Investigating officer Det Con Dan Bister said: "The offenders of this case conspired to steal a considerable amount of money from honest, law-abiding businesses.

"We were able to demonstrate to the court that a significant amount of planning had gone into each offence but, despite the offender’s best efforts, we were able to piece together the evidence that tied them to the conspiracy.

"I am pleased that the victims have now seen justice served and that these organised thieves are unable to target more innocent victims."

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