Burglar who targeted homes and cars jailed

Andrew Clay (42) was caught on camera smashing the window of a Nissan Leaf in Albemarle Way, Cambridge, with a screwdriver and stealing £10 from inside on March 5.

The following night he was again spotted on camera, this time smashing the window of a Vauxhall Vivaro in Ditton Fields, Cambridge, before stealing £12, chewing gum and a driving licence.

After breaking into the car Clay tried the door handle of the house it was parked in front of and, when that was unsuccessful, tried to get in through a backdoor, which was also locked.

In the early hours of March 26, CCTV captured him approaching a house in The Sycamores, Milton, ringing the doorbell and trying the door handle.

That same day a laptop, wallet, bank cards and cash were stolen from a house in The Rowans, Milton, after a patio door was left unlocked.

Clay was arrested at just after noon on March 26 after he was identified as a suspect for the offences earlier that month.

Officers seized several items of clothing which matched those seen on CCTV during the offences in Albemarle Way, Ditton Fields and The Sycamores.

Further investigations revealed he was also in the area of the burglary on March 26 at the rough time it occurred.

Clay, of Jack Warren Green, Cambridge, was sentenced on Friday at Cambridge Crown Court after pleading guilty to burglary, two counts of attempted burglary and two counts of theft from a motor vehicle.

DC Victoria Norden, who investigated, said: “The amount of evidence we had against Clay gave him no choice but to admit to his crimes.

“Tackling burglary is a force priority and we will continue to do everything in our power to put offenders like Clay before the courts.”

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.