A man who committed two burglaries having been released on licence from prison has been jailed for three years.
Steven Clark, 20, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court after pleading guilty to the offences on Friday, September 22.
Police received a call at 4.20pm on Sunday 16th July 2017 about a burglary in progress at property off Hobbs Cross Road, Old Harlow. The victim returned home to find a blue Vauxhall Vectra sounding its horn and his garage door open.
A neighbour noticing the suspicious behaviour and parked his car in front of the vehicle while victim looked inside his home to find a messy search had been carried out, windows smashed and items missing.
The suspicious car then sped off, crashed and the suspects ran from the scene. Police found that tape had been used to change the number plate details and inside the car was a stolen jewellery box and jewellery.
A further burglary was reported at around 5.40pm on Sunday, July 16, a woman living off High Laver Road, Matching Green, discovered that she had been burgled after returning home from work.
The victim’s door window was smashed, a messy search had been carried out and a jewellery box with contents had been stolen. A witness reported seeing a blue Vauxhall Vectra driving away from the area in suspicious circumstances. The jewellery box and items of jewellery recovered from the abandoned Vauxhall Vectra were positively identified and returned to the owner.
Police established that the vehicle had been purchased earlier that day and linked the mobile telephone number used to purchase the vehicle to Steven Clark.
Further analysis of the call data provided evidence linking the phone to the relevant areas for the offences. Clark was arrested on Monday, July 31.
Investigating officer Dc James Smith, of Harlow CID, said: “Clark is a prolific offender who was released from prison on licence when he committed these crimes.
“He showed no regard for his victim’s homes and property. As well as the theft of personal items there was also extensive damage caused.
“Clearly he has not changed his ways following a spell in prison and I believe our communities are safer with him locked in a prison cell.”