A crook who burgled a pub in a historic walled city has been jailed after ‘AI’ facial recognition software identified him from CCTV showing him sneaking out. Darren O’Reilly, 40, admitted entering the private quarters of Chester’s Peacock pub on 28th August. He went into the office which contained a safe and took cash which he stuffed into his backpack.
But Chester Magistrates Court heard he was caught on the pub’s CCTV and run through facial recognition software. They got a match and O’Reilly’s name was flagged as a suspect. PC Dan Malone, of Cheshire Police, said: “O’Reilly was caught in the act with the help of CCTV, facial recognition, our dedicated detectives, and our colleagues in Merseyside.
“He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and is now behind bars.
“This goes to show that the risk of getting caught after committing a crime has increased remarkably thanks to technology and our determined officers here and over the border.
“I hope this acts as a deterrent to other would-be thieves.”
The court heard that O’Reilly entered the private quarters of the Peacock pub on Christleton Road, Chester, on the afternoon of 28 August.
He went into the office which contained a safe and took cash which he stuffed into his backpack.
A staff member spotted him coming down the stairs into the main bar area and spoke with him. He apologised and said he was looking for a friend and was in the wrong pub. He then left.
Cheshire Police said: “It came to light that the safe had been tampered with when the key couldn’t be found by staff. Police were alerted and an investigation was launched.
“The pub’s CCTV showed O’Reilly taking money from the safe and then leaving.
“The CCTV image of the suspect was retained by detectives and run through facial recognition software. They got a match and O’Reilly’s name was flagged as a suspect.”
O’Reilly was detained by Merseyside Police officers on 29 August for another matter and air support spotted he had discarded a rucksack.
The bag which contained cash was located and seized by Merseyside officers. More cash was discovered following a search of O’Reilly. He admitted burglary was jailed for six months.
