A burglar who left a sock at the scene of his crime has been jailed for more than a year.
Ricky Thomas was wearing socks over his hands when he broke into McColl’s in Main Street, Littleport on 15 April.
In the process of stealing vapes, cigarettes and alcohol, Thomas, took one of the socks off and forgot to pick it up, leaving behind his DNA for police to discover.
On 23 May he was then caught on CCTV stealing further cigarettes and alcohol from the Premier Store in Main Street.
Police arrested him later that day in Anchor Court and found two bags full of cigarettes and alcohol.
At Peterborough Crown Court yesterday (20 June), 40-year-old Thomas, of no fixed address, was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison after previously pleading guilty to the two burglaries.
He also pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft which took place between 1 March and 22 May and saw him steal alcohol, meat and fuel from shops including Co-op in Main Street and BP and One Stop in Wisbech Road.
Detective Constable Edward Glasse, from the Southern Acquisitive Crime Team, said: “Thomas is a prolific opportunist thief and burglar.
“Unfortunately for him he left behind his DNA and multiple images of CCTV. We hope this sentence provides some respite to the businesses in Littleport who have been plagued by his crimes recently.”
Ricky Thomas was caught by a combination of CCTV and a sock he used to cover his hand but then left at scene of Littleport burglary.