Sunderland brothers who burgled hair and beauty salon convicted

David and Aaron Richardson were both detained in the early hours of Wednesday, May 26, after the Holmlands salon, in Tunstall Road, was raided.

The brazen pair were found hiding behind a nearby car and a stash of stolen perfume was seized nearby after officers supported by the dog section were at the scene within five minutes.

Both men were brought into custody and later charged with burglary. They both admitted the offence when appearing before magistrates in South Tyneside on Thursday, May 27 – just 36 hours after they were first arrested.

David, 30, admitted burgling Jimmy’s Barbers in Sunderland on the morning of April 18, along with handling stolen goods after he was found in possession of more than £4,000 worth of drills and showers swiped from B&Q.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property after being found to have handled a £3,000 car that had been stolen from an address on Cairo Street on April 25.

As well as the burglary, older brother Aaron, 31, admitted theft from motor vehicle and fraud by false representation relating to the theft of a bank card from a car in Ashbrooke on March 21. Aaron later fraudulently used the stolen card at a petrol station.

David and Aaron, both of Hendon Valley Court, Sunderland, will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on June 25 and have been remanded in custody.

Detective Sergeant Chris Raper-Smith said: “The Richardson brothers have consistently shown a total disregard for both the law and the livelihoods of others, and their latest criminality saw them selfishly break into local businesses and swipe any valuables that they could find.

“We will not tolerate this type of behaviour and look forward to both being sentenced for their crimes later this month."

Detective Chief Superintendent Aelfwynn Sampson, head of crime at Northumbria Police, added: "The fact that these offenders were dealt with so quickly is testament to the quick and effective response by our officers who seized vital evidence, which was then used to pull together an excellent prosecution case."

Anyone who sees anything suspicious is encouraged to report it to police by calling 101.

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.