A serial burglar linked to commercial break-ins has been jailed for more than 12 years after police recovered a fingerprint from a Sainsbury’s Bag For Life left at a crime scene.
Charlie Woodford, 27, from Southampton, was sentenced to a total of 12 years and six months at Southampton Crown Court on Friday, July 31.
He was connected to the theft of more than £127,000 worth of cash and goods during a series of commercial burglaries between August 2024 and May 2025 across Hampshire, Somerset, and Surrey.
Police said Woodford was part of a group which targeted businesses after hours, using a crowbar to force entry before taking cash and stock.
CCTV footage captured offenders entering shops carrying large white bags, wearing gloves and covering their faces in an apparent attempt to avoid identification.
But the investigation made a breakthrough after an orange reusable Sainsbury’s bag was found following a burglary at an optician’s.
The bag was recovered and tested, with officers finding a fingerprint belonging to Woodford.
He was arrested on June 19, 2025, after police carried out early-morning raids at several addresses in Southampton and Wiltshire that he was known to have access to.
Officers also recovered a stolen caravan containing packaging and stocktake reports linked to four burglaries Woodford was suspected of being involved in.
Videos found on his phone later showed him in the back of a car, leaning on bulging white rubble sacks filled with stolen goods.
In one clip, he could be heard bragging about having “the boot jammed full, absolutely brimmed” with more of the criminal haul.
Woodford pleaded guilty to a robbery in Hampshire and conspiracy to commit burglary covering 19 offences across the three counties.
He was given 10 years and six months for the robbery and a consecutive two-year sentence for the conspiracy to commit burglary.
Investigating officer PC Grindlay said: "Charlie Woodford's downfall was complacency.
"He believed he could continue committing burglaries without consequence, but every offence left some evidence for us to piece together.
"Through a meticulous investigation we were able to put Woodford before the courts and eventually behind bars.
"My message to anyone considering committing burglaries is simple, you should expect us to investigate relentlessly, and you should get used to looking over your shoulder, because sooner or later we will catch you."
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