Clueless Burglar Caught Hiding in Loft After Police Track Stolen AirPods
A bungling Christmas burglar has been jailed after police tracked him down to an attic hideout by tracing stolen AirPods, following a robbery that devastated a family in Kent. Anthony Allen, 47, was sentenced to two years, four months, and 23 days in prison at Canterbury Crown Court on February 25, after pleading guilty to burgling the Olgun family home in Boxley, Ashford, on Christmas Day.
Police Use Apple Tech to Locate Attic Hideaway
Kent Police were alerted to the burglary after the Olgun family reviewed their CCTV footage, which captured Allen lurking through their house at 11.33pm and rummaging through drawers. Officers then used the stolen AirPods to trace Allen to an address in Stanhope, Kent, approximately 22 miles away, where he was discovered cowering in an attic. The burglary resulted in the theft of items valued at over £3,000, causing significant emotional and financial distress to the victims.
Victim Impact Statements Reveal Lasting Trauma
During the trial, victim impact statements from the Olgun family were read aloud, highlighting the profound effects of the crime. Rozerin Olgun, one of the victims, expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence, noting Allen's extensive criminal history of 25 previous convictions for 55 offences. She stated, “I don't think two years is anything, but obviously it is what it is. He has done it at other times, so he'll do it again.” Her younger brother, aged 17, described how the burglary disrupted his studies, saying, “To come home to find everything had been turned upside down has really affected me. I had to take time out of school, and when I'm there, I feel distracted.”
Mitigating Factors and Apology Offered in Court
In mitigation, defence lawyer Shanda McAteer explained that Allen had suffered personal losses, including the death of his long-term partner's mother and his own father, leading to increased drug and alcohol use. Allen, who has no fixed address, hoped to apologise to the family and seek help to reform his behaviour and repair relationships with his children. However, the court also heard that Allen had been convicted of burgling two other properties on the same day as the Olgun incident.
Judge Condemns Burglary as Intrusion on Safety
Judge Paul Goldspring delivered a stern rebuke during sentencing, emphasising the severity of burglary offences. He told Allen, “You have an extensive and appalling criminal record. Burglary is not merely a crime against property; it's an intrusion into the safety and security of those violated.” Allen must serve at least 40 percent of his sentence in custody and will pay the statutory victim surcharge, underscoring the legal consequences of his actions.
