Bridgend Burglar Jailed Five Years After Crime Spree

A Bridgend man has been sentenced to five years in prison after going on an indiscriminate burglary spree before being caught red-handed by patrolling officers. 🚔

John Jones, 37, was arrested in the early hours of Friday, March 14, in the Wildmill area of Bridgend. He was caught in possession of property which he’d stolen from houses just minutes before.

Just after midnight on March 14, he entered a house in Litchard via a kitchen window. The elderly resident heard a noise downstairs and to his horror came face to face with John Jones in his living room.

Jones left the house and the resident contacted South Wales Police. Officers headed for the area and within minutes, they spotted Jones in Wildmill and arrested him.

He was riding a bike he’d stolen hours before and was also carrying mobile phones, chargers, and a watch which had all been stolen. People woke the next day to discover they had been burgled or targeted by him through the night.

The owner of the bike Jones was found riding contacted police to report it stolen, after realising it had gone from his garage. Police also received calls from concerned residents whose doorbell cameras had captured Jones trying to enter their house.

John Jones, of Heol Pandy, Llangeinor, was charged and pleaded guilty to three burglaries and two attempted burglaries. He was jailed for 60 months at Cardiff Crown Court on May 30. ⚖️

Detective Constable Aled John said: “John Jones is a prolific criminal who set out that night to commit as many burglaries as he possibly could. Had it not been for the bravery of the elderly victim, he could have gone on to commit many more. Being a victim of a burglary is a traumatic experience and John Jones had complete disregard for the impact his criminality has on others. People have the right to feel safe in their home and John Jones deserves to be in prison where he is no longer a threat.”