Coventry man guilty of stealing thousands of pounds of computers from school

A Coventry man who stole computer equipment from schools in the city has been convicted.

Darren Reid's spree of thefts saw him steal thousands of pounds worth of laptops, iPads and valuables belonging to staff throughout 2024.

Schools team officers from Coventry LPA poured over hundreds of hours of CCTV as part of their investigation into the burglaries, leading to Reid's arrest in October this year.

In total, Reid stole three iPads, six laptops and a machine used to check electrics.

The value of the stolen goods came to more than £8,000.

Now, the 50-year-old has pleaded guilty to burglary, handling stolen goods and possession of a Class B drug on 19 December.

Reid, of Bell Green Road, Coventry, was remanded to appear at Warwick Crown Court on 16 January where he will be sentenced.

Partnerships Inspector Dave Mason said: "This spate of burglaries had a devastating impact on the resources available to our young pupils.

"It has greatly impacted on school budgets, risking their ability to provide extracurricular activities for pupils.

"Thanks to the hard work of the officers investigating, we were able to build a case against Reid and see him quickly charged.

"We'd remind anyone who is offered electronic items at a discounted price, by someone they don't know, to instead report it to us.

"Selling these kind of items without proper documentation can be a sign of stolen goods, so don't buy them if the seller can't provide proof of purchase."