Man admits to spate of New Forest burglaries

Zachary Southern has pleaded guilty to committing a total of seven burglaries between December 2020 and January this year.

The 27-year-old of no fixed address entered his pleas at Southampton Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

It follows a series of incidents in the Forest.

On December 18 2020 a number of bicycles and a paddle board were stolen from a garage at Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu.

In January a house Woodside Close, Marchwood, was broken into and electrical items stolen.

On January 4 a bicycle was reported stolen from a shed at Spindlewood Way, Marchwood.

On January 11 a garage at Kings Road, Lymington, was broken into.

In January a bike and inflatable kayak were reported stolen from a shed at Woodlands Road, Woodlands.

In the same month another shed at Woodlands Road was broken into

On January 13 an outboard engine was reported stolen from a garage at Woodlands Road.

He is due to appear at Southampton Crown Court for sentencing next month.

Chief Inspector Helen Andrews said: “Tackling burglary is a district priority for us. We want the local communities to be reassured that our neighbourhood policing teams are doing all that they can within their powers to prioritise investigative opportunities for all reported burglaries in the area.

“We understand the impact that burglars like Southern have on our local communities and that’s why we continue to have increased patrols and remain committed to seizing all opportunities we have to bring those responsible to justice.

“We would continue to ask that residents remain vigilant and report all criminal and suspicious activity through the normal channels – by either calling 101 or via the Hampshire Constabulary online reporting tool.”

Southern also admitted to driving whilst unfit through drugs in relation to an incident on November 13, 2020 on Saturn Close, Southampton. Officers stopped him in the vehicle he was driving and tested him for drugs on the roadside, the test came back positive for cocaine.