A man has been jailed after going on a shoplifting spree that cost Cardiff businesses over £1,000 in losses.
Karl Legg, aged 39, of Cardiff, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court to two years and eight months in prison on June 11, 2025, after pleading guilty to four counts of burglary and one count of theft.
The court heard how on May 5, 2025, just before 7pm, Legg cycled to a Cooperative on Pontcanna Street in Cardiff. Upon arrival, he walked straight behind the front desk and stole eight bottles of spirits, worth £198.50, before leaving the shop and cycling off.
Less than two hours later at around 9.30pm, he arrived at a Cooperative on Danescourt in Cardiff and headed behind the till, where he stole a further eight bottles of alcohol, totalling £252.80.
The following morning, at around 11.45am, he entered a Premier store on Cowbridge Road East. Legg waited for the staff member to be distracted before stealing bottles of vodka from behind the till, worth £182.25.
Three days later, on May 9, Legg struck again at a Spar store in Llandaff at around 6.35pm. This time, he approached the meat aisle and placed £97.50 worth of steaks and meat joints in his rucksack before leaving without paying.
Seven hours later, in the early hours of May 10, police were called to a break in at Tesco Express in Cyncoed. This time, Legg has stolen £320.25 worth of alcohol and broken a window.
CCTV enquiries linked the incidents together, and Legg was identified and subsequently arrested.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Warriner said: “Legg’s actions show he believed he was above the law and didn’t care about how his actions impacted businesses in Cardiff. I’m pleased to see the sentence determined by the courts.”
