A SERIAL burglar who stole nearly £400 after breaking into a Barnet cancer charity shop has been jailed for 20 weeks.

Terrence Lewis, of Mulberry Close, Barnet, was caught after leaving blood at the scene of the theft at Cherry Lodge Cancer Care in Church Passage, on the night of January 27.

The 34-year-old smashed a window at the front of the shop before swiping £50 left in the till and then forcing open a filing cabinet at the rear of the store and taking another £320.

However, the repeat offender’s blood was matched from the police database and he was tracked down and arrested on Fabruary 14, and jailed for 20 weeks at Enfield Magistrates Court.

Detective Constable James Ashton said, “Solving a case like this is rewarding for two good reasons. Firstly Lewis is a persistant thief with numeorus convictions for dishonesty.

“For Barnet residents taking this man off the streets will bring a desrved rest from this man’s thievery.

“Secondly there is something vile about theft from a charity shop. It is hard not to feel utter contempt for those who commit this type of offence.”