Melbourn prolific burglar locked up thanks to members of public

A BURGLAR has been locked up for more than two years thanks to eagle-eyed members of the public.

Joseph Mahon, 22, burgled two homes in Melbourn on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 4, this year.

At one, in Orchard Road, he ransacked the house and stole an iPad. In another, in Greenbanks, he stole silver tableware and jewellery.

However, following the latter, neighbours noted the registration of Mahon’s Audi TT and later that afternoon he was seen by Met officers in London. He was pursued but officers but they slowed down because he was driving dangerously.

The Audi was later found abandoned in North London and investigations revealed it had been stolen in a Bedfordshire burglary.

Mahon was stopped in North London soon after and found with the iPad and jewellery stolen in Melbourn.

Property from the burglaries was also found in the Audi along with Mahon’s fingerprint.

On Wednesday (May 31), Mahon, of Fanshawe Road, Cambridge, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary at Peterborough Crown Court and was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment on both, to run concurrently.

DC Ian Butcher, who investigated, said: “This is another prolific criminal locked up for a significant time.

“Justice has been done thanks to the prompt actions of neighbours, and the collaboration of officers attending the scene and their colleagues in the Met.”