This is Kent -- A Sheppey burglar caught red-handed with a pair of stolen live chickens has been jailed for two years. Aubrey Hope, 24, went on a bizarre burglary spree across Minster 'to make money for himself' after losing his job. His mini crime wave began overnight on August 26 when he targeted a shed at the back of a property in Marian Avenue. He broke into the pen and stole three of the birds with 'afro haircuts' which he then left in a wheelie bin. He then walked to Poppy Crescent and stole three BMX bikes, a mountain bike and a screwdriver. Hope then set off for Noreen Avenue and targeted an aviary in a back garden and stole a cage containing canaries. On August 27 at 3.30am he then went into a property in Lupin Court, after noticing a front door ajar and stole a Playstation 3, an iPhone, iPad 2, wallet and cash, watch, bracelet and sunglasses while a family slept upstairs. He then attempted to steal a Alpha Romeo GT parked in the driveway. But he ended up accelerating too quickly and colliding with a neighbour's VW Polo. The sound of the collision woke the victim and neighbours, who saw Hope run away from the property. Officers from Kent Police then used a mobile phone tracking app to locate their stolen iPhone, which led them to Lapwing Close. Just as officers were about to enter the property, Hope arrived, together with a bag containing the stolen chickens. He was arrested and he later admitted burglary dwelling and asked for three further burglary other than dwelling offences to be taken into consideration. During interview he said: "Words cannot express how sorry I am. I went back on all my morals." He was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday, December 11) at Maidstone Crown Court to two years imprisonment. Investigating officer, Detective Constable Iain Joyce of Kent Police, said: "This was a sorry tale in which Hope, having just lost his job, made a terrible decision that I'm sure will haunt him for the rest of his life. "There's no doubt alcohol played a part in his decision-making that night, but it was no excuse and will be of little comfort to those victims that he targeted that night. "His intention was to steal items that he could sell on quickly and clearly had given little or no thought to those he was stealing from, particularly the family asleep upstairs when he broke into their house. "We were able to use a mobile tracking app to locate where Hope had stashed the stolen items and arrest him nearby with further stolen items from a previous break. "People have a right to feel safe and secure in their own home and they can rest assured that Kent Police will continue to use everything in our power to locate offenders, arrest them and put them before the courts. "I would urge Hope to use his time inside wisely and to contemplate his actions that night and the impact it no doubt had on those affected." *For more on Kent Police's crackdown on burglary across the county, visit www.kent.police.uk or follow us on Twitter @kent_police and search #OpCastle*
Reported by This is 9 hours ago.
This is Kent -- A Sheppey burglar caught red-handed with a pair of stolen live chickens has been jailed for two years. Aubrey Hope, 24, went on a bizarre burglary spree across Minster 'to make money for himself' after losing his job. His mini crime wave began overnight on August 26 when he targeted a shed at the back of a property in Marian Avenue. He broke into the pen and stole three of the birds with 'afro haircuts' which he then left in a wheelie bin. He then walked to Poppy Crescent and stole three BMX bikes, a mountain bike and a screwdriver. Hope then set off for Noreen Avenue and targeted an aviary in a back garden and stole a cage containing canaries. On August 27 at 3.30am he then went into a property in Lupin Court, after noticing a front door ajar and stole a Playstation 3, an iPhone, iPad 2, wallet and cash, watch, bracelet and sunglasses while a family slept upstairs. He then attempted to steal a Alpha Romeo GT parked in the driveway. But he ended up accelerating too quickly and colliding with a neighbour's VW Polo. The sound of the collision woke the victim and neighbours, who saw Hope run away from the property. Officers from Kent Police then used a mobile phone tracking app to locate their stolen iPhone, which led them to Lapwing Close. Just as officers were about to enter the property, Hope arrived, together with a bag containing the stolen chickens. He was arrested and he later admitted burglary dwelling and asked for three further burglary other than dwelling offences to be taken into consideration. During interview he said: "Words cannot express how sorry I am. I went back on all my morals." He was sentenced yesterday (Tuesday, December 11) at Maidstone Crown Court to two years imprisonment. Investigating officer, Detective Constable Iain Joyce of Kent Police, said: "This was a sorry tale in which Hope, having just lost his job, made a terrible decision that I'm sure will haunt him for the rest of his life. "There's no doubt alcohol played a part in his decision-making that night, but it was no excuse and will be of little comfort to those victims that he targeted that night. "His intention was to steal items that he could sell on quickly and clearly had given little or no thought to those he was stealing from, particularly the family asleep upstairs when he broke into their house. "We were able to use a mobile tracking app to locate where Hope had stashed the stolen items and arrest him nearby with further stolen items from a previous break. "People have a right to feel safe and secure in their own home and they can rest assured that Kent Police will continue to use everything in our power to locate offenders, arrest them and put them before the courts. "I would urge Hope to use his time inside wisely and to contemplate his actions that night and the impact it no doubt had on those affected." *For more on Kent Police's crackdown on burglary across the county, visit www.kent.police.uk or follow us on Twitter @kent_police and search #OpCastle*
Reported by This is 9 hours ago.