Nottingham Burglar Convicted After DNA on Discarded Red Bull Cans
A hapless burglar has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after his DNA was discovered on cans of Red Bull he left behind at the scenes of pub burglaries in Nottingham. Reece Wheat, 29, was captured on CCTV footage casually sipping the energy drink as he prowled around two pubs during his criminal spree.
Forensic Breakthrough Leads to Conviction
Forensic teams from Nottinghamshire Police collected DNA samples from the discarded Red Bull cans, which matched Wheat's profile on the national police database. This crucial evidence linked him directly to burglaries that occurred on November 28 and December 1 last year. The cans were found at two different pub locations that Wheat had targeted.
PC Madison Hayes of Nottinghamshire Police commented on the investigation, stating: "Our officers always look for forensic opportunities when conducting inquiries at the scene of a crime. Unluckily for Reece Wheat, whilst conducting such checks at two locations he'd burgled, we found Red Bull cans he'd drank from and then discarded."
Multiple Burglaries Across Nottingham
Wheat's criminal activities extended beyond just the two pubs where the Red Bull evidence was found. He was finally apprehended on December 12 after breaking into a third pub in the city. After emptying the till, Wheat attempted to flee but was spotted and apprehended by officers shortly thereafter.
While in custody, police connected Wheat to five additional burglaries at shops or businesses across Nottingham. These crimes all occurred between November 25 and December 11 last year, with Wheat stealing cash, alcohol, and e-scooters during his spree.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Wheat faced charges for three counts of burglary and two thefts from a shop in Nottingham city centre on October 26 last year. The former Ripley resident pleaded guilty to all charges at Nottingham Magistrates' Court and received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
PC Hayes added: "Those discoveries enabled us to forensically link Wheat to the offences, which we then confirmed when we found footage of him walking around the premises sipping the drinks. The weight of all this evidence ensured he had no choice but to admit what he'd done, so we're really pleased to see he's now received a custodial sentence for his actions."
The CCTV footage showed Wheat not only committing the burglaries but actually taking moments to enjoy his preferred energy drink before discarding the cans and making his getaway. During his raids on the pubs, he pocketed thousands of pounds in cash and valuables.
