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Some burglars swallow TICs on behalf of others. One such example (which I know is true):
J, a known burglar, convicted of fraud. Police visit him in jail to do a 'TIC clear-up'. They have a schedule of unsolved burglaries going back 10 years. https://twitter.com/CrimeGirI/status/1329406468181929987
J, a known burglar, convicted of fraud. Police visit him in jail to do a 'TIC clear-up'. They have a schedule of unsolved burglaries going back 10 years. https://twitter.com/CrimeGirI/status/1329406468181929987
Police take him out of custody to visit houses. He confesses to day-time only, not "creepers" (night-time raids when the occupants are sleeping inside) as that's an aggravating feature. Police ask him how he performed them, he repeats what's on the schedule.
While out, officers buy him Nando's and McDonald's. Give him tobacco. Let him make calls from their mobile telephones. Even let him have a personal visit from his gf who they lock in the police car with him so they can get "reacquainted". He confesses to 16 burglaries on tape.
He has no lawyer present. Police charge him with one count and TIC the rest. He contacts a lawyer and tells him "I'm not guilty" and wants to plead so. He's way past a 3-strike burglar, so gets committed to Crown Court. Clever lawyer submits defence statement per instructions.
J not guilty as he was coerced by police to confess. He did not commit them and can prove how for some of them quite simply: he was in jail at the time of some of them. His custody records will prove so. The food, tobacco and letting him see his girl were bribes to confess.
CPS drop the case. Officers investigated. 16 burglary victims have no justice.
