A burglar broke into a theatre during lockdown to steal a laptop but was then caught after making himself a cup of tea and falling asleep.
Adrian Edwards, 46, was jailed for 16 months yesterday after admitting carrying out the break-in at 6am on April 19 this year.
A judge at Maidstone Crown Court heard that Edwards, described as of no fixed abode, also admitted a charge of possessing class B drugs.
He was charged by investigators after his DNA was found on discarded beer cans and cigarettes left at the Central Theatre in the High Street, Maidstone.
Edwards broke into the theatre and made himself a drink before taking a laptop, drill and trainers.
Far from making a quick getaway however, he then decided to have a lie down and fell asleep.
An employee arriving for work disturbed him and he quickly left the building with the stolen items.
But police arrested him later that day after looking at CCTV of the incident. When he was arrested, officers also found he was carrying drugs.
A police statement said: ‘Later forensic examination of blood found near a window and on open cans of drink and cigarettes which Edwards had discarded at the theatre, found a match to his DNA. Officers also recovered some medication at the scene in his name.’
CID investigator, Karendeep Khaira, said: ‘This was a brazen burglary that was undermined when Edwards carelessly fell asleep at the scene.
‘He had thought he had time to make himself a cup of tea while stealing other people’s property but only succeeded in leaving a trail of evidence that allowed our officers to swiftly detain him and bring him to justice. I hope his sentence acts as a deterrent to others.’
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