Burglaries in Basildon lead to police charging three suspects

Robert Blackmore, Thomas Wallace and Ricky Wilson are allegedly behind the crimes, four of which were reported to police on Friday September 20.

It is believed that during the burglaries, the suspects drove an SUV into stores and takeaway restaurants and took items from there.

The first incident occurred in the early hours of September 16 when police were alerted to a vehicle driving into a shop in Town Square, Basildon.

Court – Three men, Robert Blackmore, Ricky Wilson and Thomas Wallace, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Saturday (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest) Four days later, on Friday, September 20, additional reports of similar incidents were received across the city.

The criminal activity in both cases occurred between 3 and 5 a.m. and typically involved a vehicle, reportedly a silver SUV, being driven into stores before suspects attempted to enter the premises.

Police said takeaways and shops in Ballards Walk, Wrexham Road, Austen Road and Britannia Court were affected.

The spate of recent incidents led to police impounding a vehicle on Wednesday. The forensic and CCTV investigations allowed officers to link three suspects to a number of incidents as early as last month.

Robert Blackmore, 35, of Butneys, Basildon, was arrested and charged with four counts of burglary between August 10 and 16 and one count of theft on August 17.

Ricky Wilson, 30, of Pattiswick Square, Basildon, was charged with three burglaries between August 10 and 16.

Thomas Wallace, 36, of Middle Crockerford, Basildon, faces a charge of theft on August 17.

The three men appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Saturday morning. Police said additional offenses committed earlier this month were still being investigated.

Commercial – an incident occurred in the Town Square, Basildon (Image: Google Street View)

Essex Police Detective Sergeant James McLean-Brown said forensic and CCTV investigations were key to arresting the three suspects.

He said: “This is clearly a significant step forward in the investigation of this series of offenses which have significantly affected numerous businesses in our city.”

“These arrests and charges are the result of some really intensive work, particularly by Basildon Crime Squad. This involved reviewing many hours of CCTV footage, securing all forensic capabilities and ultimately identifying three people who we believe are responsible.”

“We are very aware of the impact on businesses in this case and will work with them to ensure they continue to be supported going forward.”