Crime
Brothers praised for detaining burglar who tried to break into home
Police praised the bravery of two brothers who went after and caught a burglar who had targeted the family home.
Michael Thornton, 43, of North Street, Peterborough, tried entering the home in Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough, on 25 March.
At about 11.30pm, the brothers’ mother was alerted to Thornton trying to break in by a CCTV system which had been installed.
After turning the TV down, she heard the back door handle being moved up and down.
She yelled to her husband and son and when they viewed the CCTV footage, they saw Thornton had been in their garden and garage, before walking up to the back door and then jumping over the fence.
Her son, who was then joined by his brother, went for a drive around the immediate area and spotted Thornton in a pub carpark.
When one asked Thornton if he had just jumped over their fence, he replied “yeah”, and so with that, the brothers restrained Thornton and called the police.
On 1 August at Cambridge Crown Court, Thornton pleaded guilty to attempted burglary with intent to steal.
Michael Thornton, 43, of North Street, Peterborough, tried entering the home in Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough, on 25 March. He has been jailed for attempted burglary.
Thornton, who was already under a community order after he was convicted of burglary and theft in February, was jailed for 16 months.
DC Stephanie Dunlop, who investigated, said: “The victims were brave to detain Thornton and acted quickly to alert officers. I really hope this sentence will give Thornton an opportunity to reflect on his actions, which were terrifying for a family.
“We will continue to work hard to bring offenders who target the people’s homes and businesses to justice.”
