A Surrey man has been jailed for over two years after targeting elderly victims in Alton through burglary and vehicle theft, Hampshire Police announced.
Danny Keet, 46, of Corbetts Close in Surrey, was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment at Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday 30 January after pleading guilty to both offences.
Police responded to two incidents on Wednesday 19 November involving vulnerable elderly residents. At 3.40pm, officers received reports that a woman in her 80s had given a lift to an unknown man in the Anstey Mill Lane area, who subsequently stole her handbag from the vehicle.
Later that evening at approximately 6.50pm, an elderly couple in their 70s and 80s returned to their Church Lane home to discover a brick thrown through their window and their property burgled.
The Eastern Area Crime Team conducted an investigation which led to Keet’s arrest and charges for burglary and theft from a motor vehicle.
PC Tony Percival from the Eastern Area Crime Team commented on the case: “Keet targeted elderly members of the community with his offending, taking advantage of one of the victim’s kindnesses to steal from her.
“I am glad to see him jailed for these offences and I hope this sentence sends a message to any would-be offenders.”
He added: “Burglary is an intrusive crime which can have long-lasting mental and financial effects on victims. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own homes and we are dedicated to ensuring that anyone commits an offence of this nature faces justice for their crimes.”
