A housebreaker who stole nearly £20,000 of gear in raids on luxury homes has been jailed for 45 months.
Peter Winks targeted high-end homes and stole goods including the keys to Mercedes cars and a magnum of champagne.
He sold many of the items he stole before he was identified by DNA he had left at the scene and arrested.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard that more than £15,600 of items, including jewellery, phones and iPads, were not recovered.
Winks, 39, admitted breaking into the homes of doctors and lawyers in Dundee and Broughty Ferry between December 22 and 16 January.
He admitted breaking into four homes and stealing items including medical equipment, musical instruments, tools and piggy banks. He also admitted having a knife when he was arrested on January 28.
Fiscal depute Saima Rasheed told the court that during the third raid, Winks stole more than £10,000 of goods. CCTV footage found later showed him selling it at Cash Converters.
When the police caught up with him, Winks was carrying a knife and wearing a fleece which had been stolen from one of the homes.
Solicitor Ross Bennett, defending, told the court that Winks had been carrying out the raids in a bid to try to fund his crack cocaine habit.
He added: “There were others involved. From the number of items involved it would have been difficult for a one-man band to execute this. He fully recognises he will be carrying the can.”
Sheriff Lorna Drummond said: “All thefts by housebreaking are serious matters and particularly given the amounts involved here.
“You stole almost £19,000 from people’s houses.
“The amount not recovered is £15,000. It is very serious and you have got a record.”
