Home raider caught by tracker device

A BURGLAR who broke into a student’s flat in the dead of night then made off with her car was caught out by a tracking device fitted to the vehicle as part of her insurance.

Serial thief Paul McNeill targeted the home in Jesmond, Newcastle, looking for valuables.

One of the young women living there heard footsteps in the early hours but thought it was just her flatmate.

But when they got up in the morning, they realised an intruder had been in and stolen two laptops and a Ford Ka from outside.

However, a tracking device was used to locate the car in Byker and when police checked CCTV in the area, McNeill was identified.

Now the 37-year-old, who has previous convictions for burglary, robbery and blackmail, has been locked up at Newcastle Crown Court for the break-in and two unrelated offences of fraud.

CCTV in the area showed three men getting out of the car and removing items from it before going to a nearby block of flats. A police officer identified McNeill from the video.

On November 26, another burglary took place in Newcastle while the occupier was out walking her dog.

McNeill did not admit to the break-in but pleaded guilty to fraud by using her bank cards very shortly after the burglary.

McNeill, of Carville Rise, Byker, was jailed for a total of two years and eight months.

The court heard he has 74 previous convictions.