Northumbria police commended the quick-thinking of a Wearside resident after an attempted burglary was caught on camera.
Gary Daglish, the would-be burglar, was seen loitering around the Rainton Meadows estate near Houghton-le-spring in the early hours of July 10, 2018. He had attempted to break into someone’s house armed with a screwdriver; however his suspicious behaviour caught the attention of a resident of the area who filmed him in the act, leading to police to be able to arrest him.
Daglish, aged 36, claimed he had smashed a window “because someone paid him to do it”. He later admitted to a charge of attempted burglary on December 11 at Newcastle Crown Court and was jailed for three years.
Detective Constable Neil Swainston, of Northumbria Police, said:
“Gary Daglish travelled to this estate in the very early hours of the morning to seek a quick win. However, his selfish behaviour was exposed thanks to the swift reactions of a resident who noticed something was not right.
“This was a great example of the public working alongside police, and the caller’s quick and accurate reporting allowed us to locate the suspect before he gained access to somebody’s home and made off with their belongings.”
The police urge members of the public to call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111. In an emergency, ring 999.