Runway intruder convicted of "hefty spate" of vehicle thefts

Friday 17 December 2021

A man who broke onto the airport runway and obstructed a plane over summer has been found guilty of a spate of thefts from "insecure" vehicles across three different parishes.

Paulo Cardoso (34) was yesterday convicted in the Magistrate's Court of six counts of stealing, and 23 of attempting to steal, items from unattended cars and vans.

He was arrested in February and March after a spate of reports about thefts in St. Brelade, St. Peter and St. Mary.

He was subsequently charged and bailed to appear in court. However, before the crimes had been dealt with, Cardoso unlawfully entered the airport in July after scaling its perimeter fence and was seen on the runway.

Cardoso was arrested again and charged with obstructing or interfering with the proper use of an aerodrome. He was kept in custody ahead of court appearance in relation to the further offences.

He admitted the aerodrome offence, and that he had stolen a bicycle. However, he denied the majority of other thefts and attempted thefts he was accused of. It was only after a Magistrate's Court trial on Thursday, that he was convicted.

Pictured: Cardoso pleaded guilty to breaking onto the Airport's runway and obstructing a plane in July.

Detective Constable Jeremy Percival said: “This was a hefty spate of thefts from a fairly rural area and thankfully Cardoso was identified soon after reports came in to police.

"Opportunist criminals will often see unlocked vehicles as an easy target. And we would urge people to lock their vehicles and not to leave valuable items in their cars or vans, especially when parked overnight.”