Bournemouth, Crime, Poole | Posted on March 13th, 2026 | return to news

Burglar brought to justice for offences in Poole and Bournemouth

Adam James Michael Crawford was found guilty of several offences including burglary, theft, fraud and aggravated vehicle taking.

A man found guilty of multiple offences in the Poole and Bournemouth area was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 6 March 2026 to a total of five years and four months in prison.

Adam James Michael Crawford, 39, from Sunderland, committed the offences during a nine-day period.

At around 2pm on Sunday 2 November 2025, Crawford went to a block of flats in Lindsay Road in Poole and told the occupant of one flat that he was doing a sponsored skydive to raise funds for a cancer charity.

The victim, in his 70s, said the cause was one close to his heart due to family losses, but he did not have any money. The defendant then took the victim to a nearby cashpoint, where he withdrew £200 and gave it to Crawford.

Two days later, the defendant attended the same block and went to another flat. He again claimed to be collecting money for the cancer charity.

The occupants agreed to give him £20 and handed the defendant £60 in cash, which he said he would get changed into smaller denominations and give them change.

However, he failed to return, and the victims subsequently found that a HiGrace tablet had been stolen from their property.

Crawford was identified as the suspect for these two offences through doorbell camera footage. Enquiries were undertaken to locate and arrest him.

While these enquiries were being conducted, on Tuesday 11 November 2025 a motorist was dropping off some items in the area of Poole Quay and left his vehicle with the keys in the ignition.

The defendant was walking past and got into the vehicle before driving off.

The victim notified police and around 15 minutes later the vehicle was spotted in the Westbourne area of Bournemouth.

Officers subsequently went to stop the vehicle in Princess Road, at which point the defendant drove into the side of one police car and reversed into a second one.

He also collided with a parked car before he was pulled from the vehicle and detained.

The defendant was disqualified from driving until January 2029.

Crawford was arrested and charged with burglary, theft, fraud by false representation, aggravated vehicle taking and driving whilst disqualified.

Detective Constable Jo Regan, of the Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “Adam Crawford targeted two elderly victims before an opportunistic theft of a vehicle, which he drove in a dangerous manner and risked seriously injuring the officers who tried to stop him.

“Thanks to the swift response of officers, we were able to bring him to justice for the motoring offences, and our detectives were also able to compile evidence to link him to the burglary and fraud matters.”