Civic Centre thief in court
Published Thursday 15th September 11 in Council - news and information releases news
An investigation by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s newly formed Corporate Fraud Investigation Team helped snared a brazen thief who stole a computer from the Civic Centre.
Radek Dostal admitted taking the computer from a self-serve room when he appeared before the town's magistrates on Wednesday 14th September.
Dostal, 20, of Albany Avenue, Southend, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £189.79 compensation to the Council and £85 prosecution costs.
Civic Centre staff reported the theft to the Corporate Fraud Team on Monday 25th July this year after noticing that a desktop modem was missing.
The device had been ripped from a cable and lock securing it to a desk in one of several self-serve rooms where residents can submit online applications.
CCTV footage showed Dostal, the last person to have used the room before the theft was discovered, leaving the Civic Centre with something concealed under his jacket.
The Corporate Fraud Investigation Team handed a dossier on the theft to police and the defendant was eventually arrested on Tuesday 6th September.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Chief Executive, Rob Tinlin, said: "Thefts like these have a financial impact on the Council and cause inconvenience to residents.
"We take all incidents of this nature extremely seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute wherever there is supporting evidence."