Blood smears lead police to catch New Year's Day thief after he raided club for second time

A serial thief faces jail after leaving his blood-smeared fingerprints on the walls of a club after breaking into it for a second time.
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Karl Hogg served 18 weeks after breaking into Houghton Comrades Club and Houghton Snooker Club in December 2018.

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But the shameless 32-year-old, of Sunderland Street, Houghton, now faces a significant term behind bars after raiding the Comrades Club again on New Year’s Day this year.

Images shared by Northumbria Police following a court hearing where Karl Hogg admitted burgling Houghton Comrades Club and Houghton Snooker Club.Images shared by Northumbria Police following a court hearing where Karl Hogg admitted burgling Houghton Comrades Club and Houghton Snooker Club.
Images shared by Northumbria Police following a court hearing where Karl Hogg admitted burgling Houghton Comrades Club and Houghton Snooker Club.

Hogg – who once snatched a Poppy Appeal box during one raid – once again left a string of clues behind for grateful detectives to follow – including his own blood-stained fingerprints on a door handle and walls.

He refused to cooperate in interview, but admitted burglary before magistrates in Newcastle and now faces going before a Newcastle Crown Court judge on Monday, March 8, to be sentenced.

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Detective Sergeant Chris Raper-Smith, who leads the Southern Burglary Team based at Southwick Police Station, said: “Karl Hogg is a serial burglar who has brought absolute misery to communities across Wearside.

Houghton Comrades Club was burgled by Karl Hogg on New Year's Day. Image copyright Google Maps.Houghton Comrades Club was burgled by Karl Hogg on New Year's Day. Image copyright Google Maps.
Houghton Comrades Club was burgled by Karl Hogg on New Year's Day. Image copyright Google Maps.
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“He has shown a constant disregard for the law and his victims, committing crime after crime for purely selfish gain without giving a second’s thought to those whose livelihoods he harms.

“We and the public are sick to death of Hogg’s criminality and he now must deal with the consequences of his actions when he is sentenced next month.

“I would like to thank the communities of Houghton and beyond for their ongoing support and cooperation, and sincerely hope Hogg’s conviction brings them some comfort.

“There is no place for offending such as this and we will continue to do all we can to put people like Hogg before the courts.”

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The burglary of the Comrades Club was one of a spate of commercial break-ins reported in the Houghton, Washington and Shiney Row areas last month and investigations are ongoing.

Two other men, aged 25 and 20, have been arrested on suspicion of burglary and remain under investigation.

Anyone who see anything suspicious is asked to contact Northumbria Police via the Tell Us Something page its website or by calling 101.

If a crime is happening or in an emergency, ring 999.

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