Jul 16 - Two Men Jailed For “Audacious” Burglary In Irish Town Store
Two Spanish nationals were jailed today after they admitted taking part in what was described as an “audacious and well-planned” burglary at an Irish Town convenience store.
Luis Garcia Beltran was sentenced to two years in prison and his accomplice, Jose Rosado Moya, will serve 18 months.
The court heard how early in the morning on the 31st May, 2015, Garcia Beltran managed to gain entry into the ‘Mozart’ convenience store in Irish Town by using a fob to deactivate the alarm. Garcia Beltran had worked at the store a year prior to the burglary and had never returned the fob and keys he had been issued with.
Once inside the store, he took a small safe containing the shop’s earnings from the previous two days of business amounting to £28,643.
While the burglary was taking place, Rosado Moya, together with two others who have not yet been tracked down, was acting as a lookout in the area.
Senior Crown Counsel Robert Fischel QC said that CCTV footage showed that both defendants visited the shop a few days before the burglary to “scout out” the premises and Garcia Beltran had even entered the shop several times after hours.
The pair were arrested on 16th June and entered guilty pleas at their first court appearance.
Lawyer Christopher Pitto, representing Garcia Beltran, said that the offence was “out of character” for his 37-year-old unemployed client. He stressed that, although the defendant was an “important player” in the burglary, there were others involved who remained at large.
Thomas Hillman, appearing on behalf of Rosado Moya, argued that his client had played a “very minor role” and had felt impelled to act as a lookout for a €200 payment because of his dire financial circumstances.
In sentencing, Chief Justice Anthony Dudley said that, as a former employee of ‘Mozart’, Garcia Beltran’s actions were a clear “breach of trust.” He said the criminal enterprise displayed both planning and organization.
The stolen money has not been recovered and the defendants have not made any reparations.
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