Police arrest drenched Northumberland burglar after he bursts copper pipe

Blundering Jamie Duff is beginning nearly two years in prison following his less than water-tight attempt to steal copper piping from an empty house in Dalton Avenue, Lynemouth, by cutting it from a boiler.

Unfortunately for him, the pipes were still full of water and he soaked himself.

A nearby resident, alerted by the sight of an unknown male in the garden, contacted officers who swiftly arrived to investigate.

They soon discovered Duff, who was suspiciously soaked on a dry day, and arrested him on suspicion of burglary.

DNA taken from tools left at the scene in January of last year saw him charged soon after.

Duff, 26, of Woodhorn Lane, Newbiggin, later admitted the offence and has now received 23 months behind bars for the Dalton Avenue burglary and a further two months for a separate shed theft and for possession of cannabis.

Det Sgt Dave Boon, of Northumbria Police’s burglary team, said after Duff was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court: “Duff’s plot to steal copper piping was less than water tight and the ensuing commotion from his mistake meant that cops were able to make a swift arrest.

“Unfortunately for Duff, in his desperation to get away after the chaos, he left tools at the scene too.

“That allowed our brilliant forensics team to do what they do best and it was only a matter of time before we could prove Duff’s involvement irrefutably.”

Det Sgt Boon added: “I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the vigilant member of the public who spotted a suspicious man in the grounds of the property and quickly contacted police.

"That quick spot allowed us to get to the scene in time to catch Duff in his drenched glory.”

Suspicious activity can be reported to Northumbria Police via the Tell Us Something page on the force’s www.northumbria.police.uk website or by calling 101.

In an emergency, or if a crime is happening, always ring 999.

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