Two Leeds burglars have been jailed after tracking software on a stolen mobile phone led police to them.
Jason Henriques and Rici Jowett were locked up at Leeds Crown Court on Friday. (March 8)
The court heard they broke into a family’s home in Shakespeare Lawn, in Burmantofts, on August 27 and stole a large amount of valuables along with a Vauxhall Astra and a Volkswagen Golf.
They took a mobile phone which featured an ‘app’ that allows the device to be tracked.
When officers attended the owner told them he had pinpointed the phone to Swinegate in the city centre.
The owner’s son continued tracking the device and directed officers to a group of men in New Briggate.
Officers detained Henriques, 22, of Cromwell Mews, Mabgate, and Jowett, 22, of Hawkshead Crescent, Seacroft, along with Christopher Lewis, 18, of Hall Court, Chapeltown.
Henriques was locked up for four years with a consecutive nine-month term for conspiracy to handle stolen goods.
Jowett was jailed for 31 months and given a concurrent 31-month term for a separate burglary.
Lewis was given a one-month prison term for allowing himself to be carried in the stolen Golf, and Bradley Cunningham, 19, of Poole Crescent, Cross Gates, was given a 12-month community order for handling the stolen phone.
Det Cons Neil McClure said: “Henriques is a prolific burglar who, despite his relatively young age, has a significant record of offences. We hope the sentences that he and Jowett have received will provide some source of comfort to the victims and to the wider community.
“This case also highlights how easily-available tracking technology can help the police to bring criminals to justice.”