Burglar used hotel’s master keycard to steal from family
A PROLIFIC burglar used a hotel keycard to steal the belongings of a Birmingham family flooded out of their home.
Justin Lawler, 40, struck at the Ramada Hotel in Sutton Coldfield, where the stricken family was temporarily being housed.
After taking a master keycard, he stole a laptop, cash and a birthday present while the mum, dad and young daughter were out.
Lawler had previously been jailed for three years in 2014 for a string of burglaries after which he apologised in a letter to his victims.
After being released, the repeat offender, from Slade Road, Erdington, had tried to turn his back on crime.
But he returned to his old ways after losing his job, Birmingham Crown Court was told.
This time, the victims were a couple and their 14-year-old daughter who had been living in a room at the Ramada
Hotel since June last year.
On December 17, Lawler, who had stayed at the hotel overnight, stole the key card from an unattended housekeeper’s trolley, giving him access to all rooms.
He checked out, but before leaving used the card to get into a room which turned out to be empty.
Undeterred, he returned the following morning and was captured on CCTV trying to enter another room, distressing the guest inside.
After pacing up and down the corridor, Lawler then saw his chance after the flood family left.
He used the card to get into their room and steal a laptop, around £200 in cash and a watch, which was a birthday present given to the daughter.
Lawler was jailed for two years and five months after admitting burglary and possessing an offensive weapon.
Will Harrington, defending, said the burglary was motivated by drugs.