The moment a bungling burglar stares right into a CCTV camera

Footage captured from the scene shows Christopher Doy, 45, looking right up at the surveillance equipment as he steals it - giving viewers a perfect shot of his face.

Clumsy criminal Doy entered the home on Prospect Street while its owner slept upstairs after using a key he got by reaching through a catflap on February 9 at about 3.30am.

He stole a number of electrical items, a handbag and a purse before making off with a Renault Clio parked outside - using keys he found inside the home.

The stolen car activated ANPR cameras at a petrol station where the victim's bank card was used.

CCTV from the petrol station and the house was used to identify Doy and he was arrested a few days later.

Doy was jailed for three years and four months for burglary at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday.

He was also given 17 months - to run concurrently - for possession of class B drugs, the theft of a motorbike, handling stolen goods, driving while disqualified and fraud.

Detective Constable Andrea Brown, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Doy had certainly put thought into his burglary crime before committing it and had planned exactly what he was going to do.

“It's a despicable act to invade someone’s home - especially in this case whilst the victim slept upstairs - and take their personal belongings.”

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