A PROLIFIC burglar has been jailed after pleading guilty to multiple crimes in the Solihull area.
Lewis Tracey, from Rea Street, Birmingham, was seen forcing entry into a property in White House Common Road, Sutton Coldfield in December last year, in which cash and jewellery was stolen.
A day later, the 24-year-old was seen on CCTV attempting to break into a property on Birmingham Road, Birmingham.
And just three weeks later, Tracey’s phone signal traced him to two burglaries and an attempted burglary in Solihull.
He initially denied the offences.
However in the face of the evidence Tracey pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday (September 3) to four years and 11 months.
Detective constable Jon Rankin, from the force CID team, said: “We understand that being a victim of burglary or attempted burglary can be very distressing and the thought of a stranger being in your home can feel like a violation of your privacy.
“Members of our community should feel safe and secure in their own homes, and we are pleased to have secured this sentence in getting a repeat burglar off the streets.”
West Midlands Police has provided tips to consider to prevent burglaries:
• Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when you’re just out in the garden.
• Hide all keys out of sight and away from the letterbox (remember a device could be used to hook keys through the letterbox)
• Install a visual burglar alarm
• Install good outside lighting and improve natural surveillance at the front of your property i.e. trim high hedges
• Leave radios or lights in your house on a timer to make the property appear occupied
• Make sure the fences around your garden are in good condition and lock side gates to prevent access to the rear of the property
• Keep ladders and tools stored away; don’t leave them outside where they could be used to break into your home
Police say victim Support can offer advice for victims. Support staff can be contacted on 0808 1689 111.
West Midlands Police has already begun rolling out ‘forensic DNA kits’ to roads in the region, as we reported.
Police added residents can also get a 50 per cent discount on kits when you sign up to WMNow online.
