Burglar jailed after his DNA found on bag of stolen goods he dropped during chase
A burglar was caught after his DNA was found on a bag of stolen goods he dropped as he was chased during a house break-in.
Cambridgeshire police say that Billy Butler (29) broke into a property in Thicket Road, Houghton, near Huntingdon, on July 1 last year while the victim was away on holiday.
A police spokesperson said: “Butler broke in through a sliding door, and filled a leather bag with jewellery boxes, picture frames, and a watch stand, but in doing so, set off the house alarm.
“A man working on a nearby property went to investigate and caught Butler in the act.
The spokesperson said: “Butler managed to get away after being chased by the man, but dropped the bag of stolen goods in his haste.
“A camouflage cap that was discovered at the scene, as well as the bag, were forensically tested and revealed Butler’s DNA.”
He was arrested by police at a property in Wisbech in October of last year.
Butler, of no fixed abode, was jailed for three years and eight months after admitting burglary at Peterborough Crown Court on May 1.
Afterwards, PC Andy Smith, who investigated, said: “Forensic tests were able to prove that the items left behind at the crime scene were at least one billion times more likely to be Butler’s DNA match than anyone else’s.
“Being the victim of a burglary can leave people feeling extremely vulnerable and scared in their own home and we will continue to do all we can to tackle it.”