A man has been jailed for attempting to burgle two homes and trying to get into multiple cars in Peterborough.

Cambridgeshire Police said that James Connors, 58, went to the first property in Crester Drive, Werrington, at about 5.15am on 21 June.

He attempted to get into a van and a car, before unsuccessfully trying to get into a side door of the property.

Police said that Connors then moved two doors down, where he repeated a similar process of trying the handles on three vehicles and then a door to the home.

The property owners, who both received alerts from their video doorbells, located Connors nearby and called police.

Police said that Connors, of Wainwright, Werrington, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted burglary and four of vehicle interference.

On Thursday (20 August) at Cambridge Crown Court he was jailed for 28 months.

Connors also admitted two further counts of vehicle interference and a theft from a shop earlier this year that were taken into consideration on sentencing.

DC Matt Reed, from Cambridgeshire Police, welcomed the sentence – and urged others to install video doorbells to keep their properties safe.

DC Reed said: “Thankfully Connors was unsuccessful in his attempts to burgle these two homes – but his intentions were clear.

“This case demonstrates the effectiveness of video doorbells as a crime prevention tool. Without them, the owners may well have been unaware of Connors’ behaviour.

“I’m pleased he was identified and has now been jailed for his actions.”