Burglar who raided dead woman’s home jailed

Leanne Moore (37) was caught by police outside the house in The Causeway, Soham, on April 20 last year after neighbours had dialled 999 to report noises coming from inside, knowing the occupant had died 13 days previous.

Officers challenged Moore and found her hiding five TV remotes, a video camera and a device to monitor blood sugar in a bag for life.

While talking to Moore her accomplice, a man in his 30s, was arrested after he was seen climbing out of a window with socks over his hands and holding a torch.

The items in Moore’s bag were quickly found to have been stolen from the house so she was arrested and in interview claimed she had been holding the bag for a friend.

However, at Cambridge Crown Court Moore, of Broad Piece, Soham, was jailed for six months after pleading guilty to burglary.

She was handed a further two months, to run consecutively, after pleading guilty to five thefts in Suffolk.

Her accomplice was jailed for a year in May after he was found guilty of burglary and obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.

DC Jennifer Park said: “Moore and her accomplice may have thought they were in luck in finding an empty house, but thanks to a neighbour’s vigilance and a quick response by officers, they now know this wasn’t the case.

“Tackling burglary is a priority for the force in our ongoing efforts to make our communities a safer place to live.”

For online burglary prevention advice visit: www.cambs.police.uk/A-Z/Burglary.

Anyone with information about burglary should call police on 101 or visit www.cambs.police.uk/report. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.