Teenager raided shop in Crawley before googling own crime

A TEENAGER who robbed a shop at knifepoint was caught by police after googling his own crime.

Thomas Penny raided Casbah in Horsham Road, Crawley, before searching online for news of the crime.

The 18-year-old was wearing a mask and wielding a knife when he stole alcohol from the shelves and cash from the till. 

But he was caught when police checked his computer and found he had been searching for “Crawley knifepoint robbery” online.

Thomas Penny

Police were called to the incident at Casbah in Horsham Road, Crawley, at around 11.25pm on December 16.

A member of staff was preparing to close for the evening when two masked men – both armed with knives – entered the shop and walked behind the counter.

They started taking bottles of alcohol from the shelf and cash from the till, and the worker sustained a small cut to the head as he attempted to intervene.

A few days later, Penny, of Brighton Road, Redhill, was arrested for an unrelated matter in Dorking, Surrey.

Following investigation into this matter, police linked him to the burglary.

Officers later found he had carried out an internet search with the words “Crawley knifepoint robbery”.

Penny was charged with aggravated burglary and he pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on June 10.

Penny was sent to a young offender institution for five years. 

The second suspect was not found and police are still searching for him.