A burglar from Doncaster is behind bars following the discovery of a discarded Pepsi can he stole from one of his victim’s homes.
Daniel Irvin, 39, of no fixed abode, ransacked two properties in the same street in Thorne, South Yorkshire, by smashing a window to gain entry before stealing high value items, including a television, jewellery, watches and a computer tablet.
But Irvin was caught by officers after an empty Pepsi can, which he stole from one of his victim’s fridges, was found near the scene of the burglary.
It was recovered and analysed by crime scene investigators, which led to his identification.
South Yorkshire Police also found a ring stolen from one of the heists being worn by a relative of Irvin’s.
This was seized and identified as belonging to the victim.
The gathering of CCTV evidence also led to a positive identification for Irwin, who was subsequently charged with two burglaries and one count of attempted burglary.
Detective Constable Rachael Gilsenan, from South Yorkshire Police, was the officer in charge of the case.
The trial took place at Sheffield Crown Court
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PAShe said: “Irvin showed absolutely no regard for his victims as he invaded their homes and plundered through their possessions.
“Burglaries leave an obvious financial impact on victims but there is also an understated psychological impact which we sadly see very often in these types of cases.
“This was a clear violation of people’s homes and people’s privacies and that is why we launched Operation Castle in Doncaster which has seen the successful introduction of new practices and investigative methods when it comes to tackling burglaries.
“I am pleased that Irvin has been convicted on the two counts of burglaries he faced and I hope his victims can feel a sense of justice and I want to assure you that we will continue to pursue justice on behalf of any future victims of this crime.”
A Pepsi can was found near the scene of the burglary
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After pleading not guilty to all offences, Irwin was found guilty of two counts of burglary and not guilty of the attempted burglary following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court.
Following the conclusion of his trial, Irwin was jailed for three years on Thursday.
Operation Castle is a targeted burglary operation in Doncaster that has seen a reduction in the number of burglaries across the district.
It was launched after Doncaster was highlighted to be an area that sees significantly higher rates of home burglaries, compared to other areas across the country.