A burglar was snared after breaking into a pensioner's house thanks to a quick-thinking neighbour who took his picture.
Ian Raper broke into a property on Bensham Road, in Darlington, on June 11 when he knew the elderly occupant was out.
As he was leaving the property and getting into his car, with £13 in change that he had stolen from inside, a neighbour took a photo of him and called 999.
Officers attended on an immediate response and were shown the picture of the man, who they recognised as 47-year-old Raper. He was arrested on June 16 and charged with burglary.
Raper, of Chelmsford Street, Darlington, admitted the offence at magistrates’ court yesterday and was remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court for sentencing at a later date.
Detective Sergeant Grace Holohan, from Darlington Priority Crime Team, said: “Burglary is a dreadful crime anyway, but to knowingly target an elderly man’s home while he was out is despicable.
“Thankfully he has some quick-thinking neighbours who were looking out for him that day and took a photo of the suspect as he was leaving the property.
“We would like to thank the woman for her actions, which were vital in identifying Raper and resulted in his subsequent arrest and charge.
“Burglary is an abhorrent crime and one which we will not tolerate in Darlington. We are continuing to work hard to take burglars off the streets and bring them to justice.”
