A man with a habit of stealing and quickly leaving the scene, known as a “bake and bolt” thief, was captured on camera taking baguettes from a local Greggs bakery. Darren Humphreys, aged 59, was caught after police discovered mayonnaise from a Greggs Mexican chicken sandwich on his face.
Humphreys repeatedly targeted the Greggs store in his area for baguettes and sausage rolls, committing the thefts on six separate occasions as detailed in the Workington Magistrates Court. Surveillance footage depicted Humphreys reaching into the bakery’s fridge in Workington, Cumbria, and nonchalantly grabbing a bottle of coke on May 7. He then casually walked out without paying after briefly glancing at the sandwiches.
During one incident, Humphreys pushed a staff member who confronted him while stealing two baguettes from the store. Despite denying the charges of theft and assault, Humphreys was found guilty after a trial where five Greggs employees and five police officers provided evidence. The court reached a verdict on Wednesday, September 10.
The prosecutor, Pamela Fee, recounted the series of thefts that began on April 24 when Humphreys stole two baguettes early in the morning. Humphreys resisted when confronted by the shift manager and pushed her, causing the baguettes to fall. Subsequent thefts occurred on April 28, May 3, May 7 (captured on CCTV), May 8, and June 1 when Humphreys stole sausage rolls but was intercepted by a member of the public who returned the items.
PC Katie Twentyman testified that she had prior knowledge of Humphreys and located him near a bus station bench where he was eating Greggs sandwiches. Humphreys was seen surrounded by baguette wrappers and dropped a sandwich upon noticing the officer, claiming someone had given him the food before his arrest.
Despite declining to present evidence, Humphreys was found guilty on all charges. The magistrates were convinced of his guilt and imposed restrictions, including a proposed Criminal Behaviour Order prohibiting him from entering any Cumbria Greggs store. The case was adjourned for sentencing until October 8, with bail conditions preventing Humphreys from entering Greggs stores in Cumbria.