Burglar caught after neighbour at retirement complex reported suspicious behaviour
An eagle-eyed neighbour alerted Humberside Police when she saw two people entering a retired man's home to steal cash.
Police caught Phillip Keetley and a woman near the home at Curzon Court, Cleethorpes after they had sneaked in to steal £70 in cash and a bank card. At Grimsby Crown Court, Keetley, 40, of Freeman Street, Grimsby, admitted burglary on June 14 this year.
Prosecuting, Samantha Laws told how the retired gentleman left his home to go to his allotment around 3.30pm. A short time later the neighbour saw a man acting suspiciously near the apartment. A woman joined him and she climbed over a gate to gain access to a small kitchen window which had been left open.
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Once entry was gained, £70 was stolen. Miss Laws said a woman had also been charged with burglary but has not been fit to enter a plea at court.
Watching from her home, the alert neighbour took photos and called the police. They arrived quickly and arrested Keetley and the woman.
Police later recovered £40 in cash and a stolen bank card. Reading from the occupier's victim impact statement, Miss Laws said he felt "violated." He said: "No one has permission to enter my property and steal. It made me feel very down."
Keetley has 35 convictions for 105 offences recorded against him, mainly for shop theft. In July 2022 he was jailed for 40 months for burglary and was on licence when he committed the latest burglary. He was recalled to prison and will serve time until November 2025.
For Keetley, Tim Savage, said the latest offence was "opportunistic." He said his client had a difficult background, having been in foster care and taking heroin from the age of 14 years and with little schooling.
Sentencing him, Judge Mark Bury said the defendant had a bad record and warned that if he ever committed another burglary he would serve at least three years in prison. He said the man felt shocked and upset by the burglary.
"You must be careful Mr Keetley. You are not getting any younger. Before long you will have achieved nothing in your life except being someone who has been in and out of prison, all their life. Make no mistake your sentences will get longer and longer," said Judge Bury. He sentenced Keetley to two years in prison.