Burglar who stole Pokémon cards from HMV jailed

Mark Flynn stole more than £1,300 worth of items after breaking into HMV.

A burglar who stole more than £1,300 worth of Pokémon cards and headphones has been jailed.

Mark Flynn broke into HMV in Doncaster after smashing the door, an act that cost the shop a further £1,000 to repair.

Flynn, 41, of no fixed abode, was jailed for six months at Doncaster Magistrates' Court on 26 January after pleading guilty to burglary.

He was one of three "prolific" retail criminals in Doncaster to be jailed in the space of a week, South Yorkshire Police said.

Serial shoplifter Kristopher Becker was also sent to prison for 12 weeks after he stole more than £240 worth of chocolate from a Co-op store in Armthorpe.

Becker, 43, of Cardigan Road, Intake, raided the store twice in the space of five days before being arrested when he was identified by the store manager and police officers.

He was sentenced at Doncaster Magistrates' Court on 2 February.

Kristopher Becker stole £240 worth of chocolate from the Co-op across two raids.

Meanwhile, Neil Burns, was jailed for six months after stealing a £30 bottle of vodka from a newsagents in Balby.

41-year-old Burns, of Furnival Road in Balby, was caught on CCTV walking out of the store without paying for the bottle, having asked for it from behind the till.

He was sentenced at Doncaster Magistrates' Court on 26 January.

Neil Burns walked out of a local newsagents without paying for a £30 bottle of vodka

Sgt Steve Roberts said: "We are working hard to combat retail crime here in Doncaster, particularly in the city centre where it is more prevalent.

"All of these offenders were convicted of thefts in 2023 and they have been caught committing the same crimes once again.

"I hope these prison sentences send out a clear message that people cannot get away with stealing from our local shops."

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