A serial burglar who went on a crime spree across Hammersmith and Fulham was jailed after DNA evidence from lager cans he dumped was found at targeted homes.
Michal Gut, of Third Avenue in Shepherds Bush, was sentenced to two years in jail for four counts of burglary and two of attempted burglary.
Gut, 30, pleaded guilty to the offences after stealing around £80,000 worth of property between January 2013 and November last year.
Detective Constable Robert Rodak, of the Priority Crime Unit in Hammersmith and Fulham, said: “Fortunately for the victims in this matter we have been able to reunite them with a majority of the stolen property, some of which holds significant sentimental value.
“One cufflink collection alone that Gut stole is worth approximately £1,200.”
He was arrested in Plaistow in February after officers investigated a series of linked burglaries across Hammersmith and Fulham, Newham and Kent.
Gut targeted homes while their occupants were out, forcing open backdoors or clambering through open windows, to steal video cameras, PlayStations and jewellery.
He was twice disturbed by occupants who were home at the time of his attempted burglaries, at which point he fled.
The bungling burglar was caught out after dumping lager – cans of high strength Polish Okocim Mocne – in the gardens of two homes he singled out.
When police searched his Newhand residence they recovered more than 100 stolen items from his stash, including a personalised necklace he has snatched from one victim.
DC Rodak said: “With support from our colleagues at Newham borough, we gathered strong forensic evidence to present before the courts.
“Gut’s conviction and jail term will serve as a stark reminder to other opportunist burglars that we will use every resource to bring them to justice.
“Furthermore we will make every effort to recover and restore stolen goods to their rightful owners.”
Picture of police tape courtesy of Ray Forster, with thanks
