Burglary Beast Nabbed After Creeping Through Cat Flap
Daniel Meade, 43, from Upper Rainham Road, Havering, was slammed with a three-year prison sentence at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Thursday, 27 October. He pleaded guilty to burglary and was also hit with a £228 fine.
Burglar Caught Red-Handed Snatching Perfume and Toys
The crime went down on the evening of 27 August 2022 in Dagenham. Meade sneaked down a side path, crawled through a bush, and reached through a cat flap to steal a set of keys. He then used the keys to unlock the back door and raided the house, making off with perfume, toy figurines, and a handbag.
Thanks to quick-thinking neighbours and CCTV, the victim spotted the break-in on camera and alerted the police. Officers swooped in fast and arrested Meade. During questioning, he refused to say a word, but the evidence spoke for itself.
Police Warn: Don’t Make It Easy For Burglars
PC Adam Sparrow, East Area Command Unit, said: “This was a very frightening ordeal for the victim, who wasn’t home but caught it all on CCTV. She called us and we were quick to arrest him. Meade has a long history of burglary offences.
“Many burglaries are opportunistic, like this one. I want to remind Londoners to keep valuables out of sight and reach of thieves, and use deterrents like lighting and CCTV. That’s what forced Meade to plead guilty here.”
For top tips on avoiding burglary, visit Met Police burglary advice.
