Prolific burglar jailed for break in

Prolific burglar jailed for break in

10:00am Tuesday 18th March 2014 in News

A PROLIFIC criminal is behind bars after an off-duty officer caught him looking into back gardens moments after he burgled a house.

Matthew Cook, 31, of Thornbush, Basildon, and his friend Gary Goodwin, 34, of Princes Close, Laindon, smashed the patio doors of the home, in Forest Glade, Langdon Hills, on January 6, to get inside.

Basildon Crown Court heard the pair, who admitted the offence, left cupboards and drawers open in their search before putting electrical items and jewellery worth 1,000 in holdalls.

They jammed a key in one of the front door locks before leaving.

However, an off-duty officer saw the pair looking over fences and called in the information.

Police searched the scene and the two men ran off when they were spotted.

Officers tracked them down and discovered one of the holdalls, recovering some of the stolen items.

They could not find the second bag, containing a wedding ring, engagement ring and the victims grandmothers ring.

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Prolific burglar jailed for break in