A PROLIFIC burglar has been jailed for 18 months after being caught on CCTV trying to pick a lock in a home he had broken into.

James O'Leary, 22, of Barlow Road, Kilburn, was caught on cameras that were installed in the home in Ridge Hill, Golder Green, following an earlier break-in.

Police were called to the home by a relative of the homeowners in October last year, who had gone to check on it because they were out.

She became suspicious when she saw a strange car parked in the driveway and, as she approached, the driver sounded the horn and a group of men ran from the house, got in and drove off.

The gang had forced the front door, but were caught on camera and a numberplate search revealed the car had been taken in an earlier burglary.

Officers identified O'Leary, who has a string of theft and dishonesty convictions, and tracked him down to his girlfriend's home in Camden, where they found him hiding in the loft with £1,150 cash.

Detective Constable Eddy Paul of Barnet CID said: “Following an earlier burglary Barnet police showed their support to the victims by installing CCTV.

“As a result of that foresight we were able to bring O’Leary to justice. I must also pay tribute to those officers who worked behind the scenes to find O’Leary.

“This is a man who will take considerable efforts to evade police and it required a great deal of work to find him.

“As for O’Leary, he is a predator of other people’s property and he deserves his time in prison.  This sentence should shake the confidence of those who may think burglary is a lucrative and risk-free form of crime.”

On Friday he was jailed for 18-months at Wood Green Crown Court.