Burglar stole car keys from Peterborough home and returned at night to steal vehicle

Police say that Jason Smith (40) went inside a house in Lavender Crescent, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, and stole the car keys from a handbag.

The police spokesperson said that Smith, whose address was given in court as HMP Wayland, Norfolk, went back to the house that night (April 10, 2025) and stole a Ford Focus parked on the drive.

The spokesperson said: “The victim realised she had been burgled, with the car keys missing, at about 7.40pm the same day, but her Ford Focus was still parked on the drive.

“However, when she awoke next morning, Smith had returned and stolen the car.

“The car was eventually found in St Martin’s Street, Millfield, Peterborough, on April 18.”

The Cambridgeshire police spokesperson said the burglary occurred after Smith got off a bus in Lavender Crescent, at about 4pm that day and was caught on CCTV looking at the victim’s house.

“He walked inside and stole the car keys from a handbag in the lounge.”

Police say that Smith was later identified from the CCTV footage and DNA found in the stolen car.

Smith was jailed for 32 months at Huntingdon Law Courts on August 25 having pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of a motor vehicle at an earlier hearing.

DC Matt Reed said: “Smith opportunistically targeted the victim by stealing the car keys but then clearly planned to return under cover of darkness to steal the car itself.

“Burglary can leave people feeling violated in their own homes, I’m pleased the sentence reflects the severity of his crime.”