Ex-burglar turns Mr Nice guy to help fight crime
9:13am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News
A FORMER criminal from Bolton is helping police by revealing the secret tactics used by thieves and burglars.
Since the age of 16, Jason Nice has spent more than 10 years in prison for breaking into houses, stealing cars, and taking drugs.
Now aged 34, Mr Nice has turned his back on crime.
And he is using his knowledge to help police combat burglary.
He will be going on patrol with Lancashire Police over the next two months, identifying easy targets for burglars, and telling police how he would break in.
Former drug addict Mr Nice used to steal to fuel his habit.
Now he is about to start a college course, and is hoping to become a mechanic.
He said: “I suppose I felt like I didn’t really belong anywhere and I wanted to be someone. I thought the only way I could do that was to commit crime.
Prison was the only place I felt welcome,” he added.
Now he says he loves helping police and wishes he could apologise to everyone he wronged.
Before breaking into a house, Mr Nice would look for tell-tale signs they were empty, such as takeaway menus left in the letter box.
He would also check whether he would be seen when running along the street. Another tactic would be to walk along terraced streets trying door handles to see if any were unlocked.
He would then walk in, lock the door behind him, and steal whatever he could find.
Sometimes he would make a sandwich.
Mr Nice went to a drug rehabilitation centre and has been volunteering with Lancashire Constabulary for more than five years.
He won “Volunteer of the Year” at the Justice Awards in 2009 for his work visiting schools to warn children away from crime.
Sgt Richard Terry said: “We are fortunate to be able to work alongside him to prevent crime.”
