Burglar stole police officer's wallet while locked in back of police car

Anthony Connor appeared before borough magistrates to admit to a series of crimes which also included a raid on a home in Kitt Green in which jewellery, cash and bank cards worth £13,800 were taken.

The hearing was told that on February 15 this year officers had detained the 32-year-old from Viscount Road, Marsh Green, on suspicion of trying to steal a Range Rover from the drive of a house in St James’s Road, Orrell.

He was being kept in the patrol vehicle but, with breaktaking cheek, he clambered over into the front and emptied an officer’s wallet of its £20 contents before the police realised what was happening and re-arrested him.

In the dock at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court, Connor pleaded guilty to the wallet’s theft, taking the Range Rover without the owner’s cnosent and to stealing £140 worth of coffee from a Co-op store.

He also admitted to the burglary on Kitt Green Road the day before and also to fraud by using a stolen bank card to buy scratch cards.

Connor was remanded in custody pending his appearance at Bolton Crown Court for sentencing on Monday April 6.

Police took to social media shortly after the series of incidents to tell of Connor’s criminal exploits.

A post on GMP Wigan West Facebook page read: “At 22:45hrs on Saturday 15th Feb C relief officers responded to reports of a male detained by the occupant of a property on St James’s Road, Orrell, having attempted to steal his motor vehicle from the driveway.

“The suspect was arrested for burglary to dwelling.

“His crime spree was not over however as after being placed into the rear of the police car he thought it a good idea to steal an officer’s wallet and remove the contents therein having reached into the front. Not clever and further arrested for theft.

“The male has now been charged with burglary, fraud, aggravated vehicle-taking, theft and remanded in custody.”