'Skilled thief' locked up for £40,000 crime spree
A prolific thief who stole around £40,000 in a four-month crime spree in Dudley has been jailed.
Lorenzo Brown, aged 22, was described in court as a 'skilled thief' who had shown no remorse for his victims who were left out of pocket.
Those targeted by the crook included his neighbours whose mailboxes were raided for bank cards and other property.
Brown , of Ripley Grove, Dudley, was finally jailed after being convicted by a jury of two counts of theft and one of fraud.
He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to five counts of theft, four of fraud and one of handling stolen goods.
Jailing him up for three years and four months, Judge Nicholas Webb said: "You are not only an opportunist thief but also…a very skilful one.
"You show no remorse."
The former student was first arrested after stealing a high performance Audi A4 worth around £30,000 from the Village Inn Hotel in Dudley in October 2014. Brown managed to open a combination-style padlock before stealing a wedding ring, watch and car keys from a locker.
He was granted police bail with officers unaware he had also been plundering the bank accounts of his neighbours.
One neighbour lost around £3,500 after Brown intercepted bank cards and PIN numbers for new accounts she had opened.
He activated the accounts using his own details and then used the card to pay bills, buy takeaway meals and order furniture.
Other items taken from neighbours included bank statements, an investment portfolio and another bank card which Brown used to apply for a gym membership.
It was also heard he stole his cousin's wallet, again using a bank card to pay bills and take out car hire agreements in his cousin's name.
Judge Webb went on: "You had moved to a flat in Ripley Grove.
"There were honest, hardworking people there and unfortunately for them, you as well.
"Not letting an opportunity to steal go begging you began to steal items of post from their letter boxes."
Those offences were committed while on bail for the theft of the items from the locker and the car.
"Overall you stole property to a value approaching £40,000," said the judge.
"You were involved in the stealing of a wedding ring, watch and car keys from a padlocked locker in a fitness centre. It was a very sophisticated and skilful theft requiring both speed and nerve."
The court heard Brown had been studying for a degree until an illness left him in hospital for five months. It was said he turned to the thefts as he struggled financially and was out of work.
