A perfume is like a piece of clothing, a message, a way of presenting oneself, a costume that differs according to the woman who wears it. But you don’t have to steal in order to smell nice. A couple whose names are Denyer and Colton stole $20,000 worth of perfume after ramming a van into a pharmacy’s entrance two years ago is now serving jail sentences, thanks to a clue the woman left behind — her purse.
Smashing the vehicle into the storm caused about $18,000 in damage, according to Wiltshire Police in the U.K.
Michael Denyer, 33, and Christina Colton, 44, both of Bristol, were sentenced on July 6 at Swindon Crown Court for causing material damage and stealing property from a Boots store in Trowbridge, some 90 miles west of London, on June 23, 2019. Boots in the UK are similar to CVS and Rite Aid in the U.S.
Denyer will be jailed for three years, according to a press release from police, and Colton will be jailed for two years and nine months, which includes sentencing for this incident and for twice failing to surrender to custody.
The early morning heist was captured by the store’s security cameras, which showed a van driven into the front of the store, and Denyer and Colton both getting out of the vehicle wearing bandanas to conceal their identities, the police statement says.
“They broke into cabinets to steal a total of £15,221 ($20,990) worth of perfume and aftershave before returning to the car and fleeing the scene.”
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The Boots store closed temporarily due to the damage, but police recovered a purse at the scene that contained Colton’s identification.
Denyer was arrested the following evening in Bristol. Police said they found evidence on his phone and the store’s surveillance camera on the day of the incident where he is seen conducting reconnaissance ahead of the burglary that proved the crime was pre-planned.
“Colton has repeatedly tried to evade justice for this crime and there have been warrants out for her arrest since she previously failed to appear for court hearings,” said a statement from Detective Constable James Gatherum of the Central Criminal Investigation Department.
Denyer had remained in prison for an unrelated crime since he was charged with burglary.
“Today’s sentencing marks the end of a very long journey since the incident happened, but after a great deal of evidence gathering and delays caused by Colton, I am happy to see both defendants receive lengthy prison sentences,” Gatherum’s statement said.
Wiltshire, where the crime occurred, is among the top 10 safest counties in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, according to government statistics. The most common crimes there are not burglary and theft. They’re violent and sexual offenses, which affect roughly every 23 out of 1,000 residents.
Source: Newsweek
