Burglar Busted After Failing to Squeeze Through Cat Flap
A bungling burglar who tried to sneak into a home through a cat flap has been locked up for five years. Richard Barham, 35, of Rainham High Street, UK, failed spectacularly in his first attempt in Rainham back in October 2018 but went on to commit two more burglaries before being caught.
Cat Flap Fail Leads to Police Hunt
Barham’s botched break-in happened on 12 October at a property in The Willows, Rainham. The victim returned home to find the plastic edge of their cat flap ripped off and the flap itself inside the house. Barham had actually stuck his arm through the hole trying to get in. CCTV footage quickly put him at the scene.
Photographed by Victim, Caught by Police
Just over a week later, Barham struck again at a home in Moor Street, Rainham. The owner had left briefly for 30 minutes. When they returned, they spotted the back door handle twisted and had to climb onto the balcony to get inside. They then saw Barham hiding on the driveway and called out to him. He claimed he was just checking if rubbish needed clearing – but the victim snapped a photo of him on their phone. That photo helped police arrest him.
Jewellery and Tech Stolen in Third Break-In
On 18 October, Barham forced patio doors open at a home in Second Avenue, Gillingham. He made off with two games consoles, four smartphones, and high-end jewellery including a luxury watch and a gold engagement ring. However, he cut himself during the raid, leaving blood which police matched via DNA to Barham.
Detective Constable Dan Bister said: “Barham is a repeat burglar and I have little doubt he would have continued to target innocent people if he hadn’t been caught. The evidence against him was so strong he had no choice but to plead guilty, and his five-year sentence is fully justified.”
