08 Jan 2026
Neighbourhood police officers have been investigating a spate of break-ins in St Albans pubs over the festive period.
Burglaries took place at The Portland Arms before Christmas, the Craft and Cleaver and Jolly Sailor shortly afterwards, and The Horn on December 31.
But there has been a positive result in relation to one of the incidents.
William Wilks, 39, of no fixed abode from Luton, was arrested and charged with burglary at The Portland Arms on November 15. Spirits, a laptop, a mobile and £90 in cash were stolen.
At Luton Magistrates Court on Friday January 2, he was sentenced for this burglary as well as a burglary at Maidenhead Aquatics on the North Orbital Road on December 2 where he stole a drill, tools, hard drive and a large fish tank.
He also pled guilty to the theft of a bike from Clarence House on November 18. In addition, he also admitted five commercial burglaries in Luton and a shoplifting.
Wilks was sentenced to a year in prison – six weeks for each of the burglaries to run consecutively – a total of 48 weeks and, an additional four weeks for the shoplifting in Luton.
Neighbourhood Police Sergeant James Keene added: “On December 31 there was a burglary at The Horn where bottles of wine were stolen, and there was an attempted burglary at the Jolly Sailor on December 30 where a window was smashed. Both of these are still under investigation. If anyone saw anything suspicious or knows who may be responsible, please report online at www.herts.police.uk/report or call 101.
“The incident at The Craft and Cleaver is being treated as a suspicious incident.”
