Welshpool burglars told to cough up

Two Polish burglars jailed for seven years have been told to hand back some of the proceeds from their crimes which total more than £131,000.

Krzysztof Karmaciuk and Rysard Elert were sentenced at Mold Crown Court earlier this year for more than 100 burglaries, including many in Welshpool, Newtown, Montgomery and Abermule.

Following a series of legal wrangles, the pair have been issued with Confiscation Orders with Karmaciuk, who stole £85,684 worth of goods, told to cough up the £9,686.74 found in his Polish bank account. He was granted six months to pay or serve an additional six months jail.

Elert was found to have benefited to the amount of £46,000 but, as he has no assets, a nominal £1 order was made.

“It’s thanks to the determination of all officers involved in this investigation that we’ve been able to reclaim some of the money these two made from their crimes,” said Detective Inspector Diane Davies, who co-orindated the operation which led to the arrests. “And Dyfed Powys will continue to ensure that criminals not only get punished for their crimes but are also unable to prosper and benefit financially from their crimes.”