Homeowner is forced to install CCTV to catch burglar - then has to track him down when he doesn't turn up for court

Islam

A burglar caught on private CCTV has been jailed after his victim shopped him to police and then tracked him down again when he didn't turn up to court.

Frustrated at being burgled twice in the past, Mark Avery installed the CCTV camera inside his semi-detached house.

And it paid off one morning when the camera recorded two men acting suspiciously in his back garden.

Mohammed Prince Islam, 26, and a 16-year-old accomplice were captured on film as they used a crowbar to break in.

They then helped themselves to Mr Avery's Playstation, games and a computer.

Islam, dressed in a dark blue hoodie, can clearly be seen peering through the living room window, then through the broken glass door and sneaking inside.

Mr Avery turned the footage over to police and both intruders - who stole around £800 of his property - were charged with burglary.

Despite the evidence, Islam still pleaded his innocence at Southampton Crown Court.

He was convicted and bailed but failed to turn up for the next hearing, so a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Islam caught on CCTV

Then, Mr Avery, of Southampton, Hampshire, stepped in again. He spotted the fugitive, 26, working in a city centre shop and turned him over to the police, who arrested him.

...using crowbar to break into the house

Now Islam, from Harefield, near Southampton, has begun a 30-month prison sentence.

Judge Peter Ralls QC heard Islam was on a community order for drugs offending when he broke in.

Judge Ralls said: 'This was a targeted attack. The victim had been subjected to two previous burglaries. He had been upset and concerned about the way people had broken into his property.

'Burglary is always unpleasant for a victim and I am satisfied this was deliberately carried out by you with planning and organisation. An immediate custodial sentence is the only appropriate penalty.'

Sarah Jones, mitigating, said Islam had not re-offended in the interim, had been working and intended to lead a law abiding life from now on.

Islam's co-accused was given a referral order after pleading guilty to burglary at Southampton Youth Court.

Mr Avery, who is in his 40s, lives in a 190,000 pounds, 1980s, semi-detached house with a porch on a quiet suburban cul-de-sac.

The CCTV camera looks out over his living room.

His video shows Islam appearing at the door and putting his gloved hands up to the glass to peer inside.

The burglar tries the door and finds it locked, before disappearing from view.

Next, an arm appears wielding a crowbar to shatter the door pane - then breaking pieces off by hand.
It then reaches inside to turn the lock and handle, before two burglars rush inside.

They stole a Sony Playstation 3, an HP laptop and computer games on December 31 2011.

Islam first appeared in court on January 12. He was convicted in August but then failed to answer bail. He was sentenced in December.

A Hampshire Police spokesman said: 'Mr Avery has been very resourceful in fitting his own good quality CCTV equipment.

'In this instance it caught two burglars in the act and made it easy to identify them. The case highlights once again the importance of vigilance and home security.

'Burglary can have a profound effect on the victim, beyond the loss of their property, and the force is committed to seeing offenders brought to justice.'