SMALL businesses that were trying to survive in "difficult times" could ill-afford to have their premises targeted for crime or "ransacked" by burglars, a court heard.
Luke Lond, 23, of Milton Road, Grimsby, admitted burglary on April 21.
James Byatt, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Lond and another man raided the premises of John Wilson Motors in St Giles Avenue, Scartho.
Police were alerted and Lond and the other man, Jason Gladding, were seen in an alleyway.
At least one of them climbed onto the roof of the nearby premises of Vets For Pets.
The police helicopter was called in. Lond later gave himself up, with his hands raised, but Gladding was not detained at the scene.
The burglars had made a 6ft hole in a wire fence and had broken a window before entering a workshop containing four cars which were there for maintenance.
A filing cabinet was forced open. Tools, valued at £1,300, were found near a hole in the fence.
Damage estimated at £300 was caused.
A button from Lond's top was found at the scene.
Gladding was later jailed for 16 weeks for two commercial burglaries.
Lond had breached a previous supervision order imposed at the same court on March 1 for possessing cannabis with intent to supply and possessing cocaine.
Simon Hirst, mitigating, said Lond had shown a "degree of perception" about his offending and had written a letter to the court.
He had a wife and a child, with another on the way, the court heard.
Recorder Robin Mairs told Lond: "These are difficult times for small businesses and they can do without people like you who break in and ransack and cause damage."
Lond was given a ten-month suspended prison sentence, a one-year supervision order, six months' drug rehabilitation and a three-month 7pm to 6am curfew.
