A shameless thief stole Royal Mail uniforms from a van to go on a crime spree disguised as a postman.
Jonathan Higgins, 32, forced his way into a Royal Mail van to steal parcels and official uniforms in Chester on November 28, 2023.
Dressed in all black puffer jacket as well as a black cap, Higgins used a stolen Royal Mail post bag as part of his disguise.
The thug was recorded walking up a driveway dressed as a postman before stealing power tools belonging to a joiner who was working at the property.
Doorbell camera footage captured the moment Higgins fled the scene with accomplice Thomas Nathan Edwards, 29, acting as his getaway driver.
Jonathan Higgins, 32, forced his way into a Royal Mail van to steal parcels and official postman uniforms in Chester on November 28, 2023
Dressed in all black puffer jacket as well as a black cap, Higgins used a stolen Royal Mail post bag as part of his disguise
Magistrates heard that Higgins and Edwards travelled across the Welsh border from Wrexham to steal from the Royal Mail van in Chester.
An onlooker used a mobile phone to record the incident as well as the moment the men fled the scene.
The following day, officers seized the van belonging to Edwards, where they found the Royal Mail uniforms inside.
Edwards handed himself in to police but Higgins remained unidentified for several months.
The 32-year-old went on to shoplift from a Nisa store in Ruabon, Wrexham, on February 17, 2024.
Higgins was caught on CCTV opening the fridges in the store before stuffing his jacket with several packs of steaks and leaving swiftly without paying.
The thief remained at large until a police community support officer in North Wales saw a media appeal for Higgins and recognised him from previous incidents.
Police Constable James Wright of Chester Proactive Team said: 'This goes to show the value of CCTV and doorbell footage in catching thieves in the act.
'In this case someone filmed them stealing the items from the Royal Mail van - they were literally caught red-handed.
'My message to opportunist thieves who think they can come to Chester to steal is that you will be caught, and you will be brought to justice.'
Higgins was captured on doorbell camera footage approaching a property in Chester
He uses a stolen postman's bag as part of his disguise
Higgins flees the scene with the stolen power tools to join accomplice Thomas Nathan Edwards, 29, in the getaway car
Higgins, of Rhostyllen, North Wales, pleaded guilty to theft by finding, two counts of theft from a vehicle and one count of theft from a shop.
He was sentenced to 24 weeks imprisonment and another six weeks for breach of a suspended sentence order.
Edwards, of Rhosllanerchrugog, North Wales, was sentenced to 200 hours unpaid work.
He will have to pay £1,597.33 in compensation and £85 towards court costs for the tool theft as well as a victim surcharge of £114.
The 28-year-old will also be expected to pay a £483 fine, £193 surcharge and £120 worth of court costs for the theft from the Royal Mail van.
