A greedy Dartford burglar who led officers to his front door after stealing AirPods among other items has been jailed for two years.
&w=1024&h=370&scale=both&mode=max)
In the early hours of Wednesday 17 April 2024, Sam Hawkins broke into a family home in Hall Road Dartford and while inside he stole a bag containing children’s passports, a laptop and an iPhone X.
He also took an iPad and some AirPods. The 37-year-old then walked to Joyce Green Lane where he committed a second break-in just three minutes after the first.
CCTV showed Hawkins approaching the property and while inside he stole the keys to a car, along with a number of electrical items. He then fled the property with the victim’s vehicle which was later recovered in St John’s Road, Erith.
A friend of the first victim tracked the AirPods to an address in Erith. They confronted Hawkins, recovered the AirPods and alerted the police who arrived at the location a short time later. Officers seized the other stolen items from inside his property. Hawkins was immediately arrested and taken into custody. He was later charged with two counts of burglary.
He pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court and on Wednesday 12 June, he was jailed for two years. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Daniel Bister of the Kent Crime Squad, said:
‘Hawkins not only brazenly committed one burglary, but was not satisfied with his first haul and went straight to another property to steal further items.
‘His greed was his downfall and, by stealing expensive AirPods which could be tracked electronically, he incriminated himself and led officers straight to his front door.
‘Targeting family homes is a despicable crime and can have a long-lasting impact of victims.
‘We will continue to pursue and apprehend those commit these offences and ensure they are brought before the court to answer for their actions.’