Moment brazen burglar smashes his approach into residence via patio doorways earlier than making off with £48k of jewelry, clothes and kid’s scooter

This is the moment a brazen burglar broke into a home by smashing the patio doors with a hammer before fleeing with £48,000 worth of goods.

CCTV shows the moment Nelson Smith, 47, raided one of three homes in Yelling, Cambridgeshire, taking jewellery and other property.

Smith parked on the drive of one and was captured on CCTV using a hammer to smash the rear patio doors.

He was seen walking to and from the house with a child’s scooter, clothing and pillowcases full of other items.

Forensics were able to recover his DNA from the scene, and he left a footprint mark at another raided home.

CCTV shows the moment Nelson Smith, 47, raided one of three homes in Yelling

Smith was captured on CCTV using a hammer to smash the rear patio doors

The hammer he used to smash through the doors can be seen next to him on the floor

Officers began searching for the vehicle he was driving, which was reported stolen in Luton in May 2023, and found it parked at a St Neots garage.

Smith was spotted inside paying for fuel and was arrested following a short foot chase.

He was wearing the same shoes seen on the CCTV and they matched the footprint found after the August 1, 2023 burglaries.

On October 21, at Cambridge Crown Court, Smith, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of burglary and one count of handling stolen goods.

Detective sergeant James Rabbett, from the acquisitive crime team at Cambridgeshire Police said: ‘Smith broke into the homes of three families and stole items with much sentimental value. 

‘Burglary is not a victimless crime, it’s an invasion of someone’s home and possession and can have a lasting impact on their well-being.’