Burglar caught on doorbell cameras during night-time spree across nine homes

A notorious burglar who was captured on doorbell cameras attempting to break into nine homes in a single night has been jailed. Sean Maher, 38, attempted to gain entry to several homes and a car in Bretton, Cambridgeshire.

He successfully entered two homes, including one in Greenham, from which he escaped wearing one sock and one Nike slider. He was riding a mountain bike he had stolen from the property, along with keys, medication, a video doorbell, and vape liquids.

The homeowner woke up the next morning to discover their home had been ransacked, reports SWNS. Maher had left lights on, drawers open, and both the front and back doors wide open.

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He also entered a home in Middleton, but just stepped through the front door before hearing the residents inside and fleeing. Shortly afterwards, Maher tried the door of a house in nearby Greenham which was unlocked.

He was thwarted by locked doors at seven properties. CCTV footage shows Maher approaching the houses and testing the door handles before quickly retreating on the night of Saturday, August 12, and Sunday, August 13, last year.

Five incidents were initially reported to the police but, after a public appeal for information, an additional four victims came forward having reviewed their video doorbell footage and CCTV systems. After examining the footage, officers from the Acquisitive Crime Team identified Maher and arrested him in Spalding, Lincolnshire on August 16.

Maher, from Welford Place, Wittering, was sentenced to three years in prison at Cambridge Crown Court last Tuesday (May 28).

He pleaded guilty to seven counts of attempted burglary, two counts of burglary and one count of vehicle interference.

Detective Sergeant Rich Ellison, from the Acquisitive Crime Team, commented: "Maher is a prolific offender with 24 previous convictions for burglaries, thefts and other similar offences dating as far back as 1999.

"He went house-to-house through Bretton one night trying to burgle people's homes, and unfortunately was successful in two of his attempts.

"This was captured on video doorbell cameras and CCTV from multiple addresses, which proved key in our investigation to identify and ultimately convict Maher."