Burglar Caught by Cat Flap Fingerprints After Crime Spree

A burglar’s criminal enterprise came to an end when he left his fingerprints on a cat flap during a house break-in, Swansea Crown Court has heard. 🐱

Ryan Thomas, 30, of Darren Las, Merthyr Vale, embarked on a night-time crime spree on 31st March 2023, breaking into homes in west Wales before using stolen cars to ramraid a shop.

The court heard Thomas first broke into a house in Broad Street, Llandovery, stealing car keys and a box of Budweiser beer before taking the victim’s Toyota Yaris. He then drove to Llandybie where he burgled another property in Ammanford Road, stealing keys to a Volvo S80 and the car itself.

Thomas used the stolen Volvo to ramraid the Petro Express garage in Glanaman, wearing plastic bags on his hands as he stole cigarettes, alcohol worth up to £5,000, and cash from the till before torching and abandoning the vehicle in Swansea.

Prosecutor Dean Pulling told the court: “Crime scene investigators recovered fingerprints from a cat flap at the first property and found the intruder had been able to access the door handle by putting his arm through the flap.”

The fingerprints were matched to Thomas, who has 54 previous convictions including burglaries, aggravated vehicle taking, and dangerous driving. Video doorbell footage also captured him entering the hallway of the second property.

By the time police identified Thomas as a suspect, he was already serving an 18-month sentence at HMP Parc for smashing into Maesycwmmer Stores and stealing thousands of pounds worth of tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Defence barrister Hywel Davies said Thomas had been using his custody time productively by completing courses and “misses very very much” his young daughter, hoping to regain contact upon release.

Recorder Christopher Felstead sentenced Thomas to 31 months in prison with a quarter discount for his guilty pleas. He was also banned from driving for five years and three months. 🚗