Burglars raided the same garage twice in a week during lockdown
crimes also put him in breach of a release licence after being freed from prison last September for a house burglary.
Ellwood and Fletcher, who appeared for separate court hearings, each pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary.
Ellwood also pleaded guilty to breaching his licence.
Prosecutor John Garside said: “The first offence has been committed and has been seen on CCTV.
“At around 6pm, three men looked around across the front of the building.
“They have climbed over the compound gate and are seen to look through the window.
“The window has been opened by one of the men.
Two are in the compound while the other looks out.
“A gun and spray paint gun are taken and the men drive off.”
He added: “They are there at 6pm on April 18. They realise the gate is not locked and walk through and take tyres and alloy wheels valued at £3,000.”
District Judge Kathryn Meek remanded Ellwood and Fletcher in custody until Monday, May 18, for sentencing.
Detective Constable Neil Swainston, of Northumbria
Police, said after Wednesday’s hearing: “This was a swift and thorough investigation carried out by an experienced team of detectives and we are delighted that both suspects have now been convicted of their crimes.
“They now must face the consequences of their actions.
“This is an incredibly difficult time for a lot of business owners, many of whom have had to close their premises due to the current COVID-19 restrictions.
“We have seen a small number of cases where business premises that have been left isolated have been targeted by opportunistic thieves looking to capitalise through the current circumstances.
“Our message to all business owners is one of reassurance. Officers are patrolling industrial parks and identified commercial areas every single day in order to ensure your premises is safe, and bring anybody flouting the law to justice.
“The successful conviction of these two individuals in Sunderland reinforces our commitment to disrupt, detect and prevent this type of criminality – and this is something that is shared across Northumbria as a whole.
Crime witnesses or victims are urged to use Northumbria Police – Report an Incident online forms instead of calling 101.
In an emergency, they are encouraged to always dial 999.