GREEDY BURGLAR CAUGHT AS HE RETURNS TO CRIME SCENE

A BURGLAR ransacked a home and stole thousands of pounds worth of goods by posing as workman in a hivis jacket.

Not satisfied with the £7,500 haul, he returned to the same house two days later – and was caught red handed.

Accompanied by different accomplices on each occasion, Andrejz Bukowiec, 37, admitted twice burgling the property in Wentworth Road, Leicester, on Friday, February 12 and Sunday, February 14. He also admitted possessing a knife.

Co-accused Filip Caba, 35, pleaded guilty to jointly committing the second break-in.

Bukowiec was jailed for two years and 10 months, while Caba was jailed for 45 weeks.

Victoria Rose, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court the householder was away when criminals in high-visibility jackets broke in by smashing a rear window in the early hours.

Although the owner’s intruder alarm sent a notification to his mobile phone, he had set it to silent and missed the alert.

Miss Rose said: “The premises were ransacked, cupboards opened and items strewn about.

“It was a planned job and a van was parked across the driveway.

“The (unknown) driver was in a high-visibility jacket, to give the appearance it was a legitimate visit.”

The prosecutor said Bukowiec emerged from the property carrying a cardboard box, also wearing a hivis jacket, and placed it in the van along with a mountain bike that was one of two stolen.

They were collectively estimated to be worth about £6,500, although Bukowiec’s defence barrister disputed the valuation.

Other items taken included a Go Pro camera, a Bose speaker, binoculars and power tools, as well as a cherished family photo album.

The owner was devastated on returning home the next day, but secured the property and was away two nights later when his intruder alarm sent another notification to his phone - prompting him to immediately alert the police.

Officers swiftly caught the defendants trying to flee with stolen items.

Bukowiec, of Bolton Road, Leicester, had a three-to-four inch long lock-knife tucked into his waistband on arrest and Caba, of Brompton Road, Hamilton, was carrying a high-visibility jacket, said Miss Rose.

She said Bukowiec stole the owner’s back door key during the first break-in, which was used to gain entry on the second occasion.

Some items taken during the first break-in were also found during a search of Bukowiec’s home.

Caba further pleaded guilty to unrelated offences of driving when disqualified and having no insurance, on November 25, for which he was banned from driving for two years and 23 weeks.

Gary Short, mitigating for Bukowiec, said the defendant had been in the UK for 18 years, during which time he had worked hard in the restaurant industry, but due to the pandemic he lost his job overnight.

He added: “It was his choice to turn to crime, stealing in order to live as he had no recourse to the benefits system in this country.”

David Lee, for Caba, said: “He regrets going to the property on the second occasion it was burgled.

“He’s been in custody since his arrest.”

HE WENT BACK TO HOME TWO DAYS AFTER £7,500 RAID