A Dover burglar who pushed an elderly woman to the floor after she found him in her house during a thieving spree has been jailed.
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Kyle Thatcher, broke into three homes between 7 and 20 April 2022 in Staple and River and, during the third burglary, was found by a woman in her 80s as he was rummaging through her bedroom. He knocked her to the ground, having already stolen her jewellery, and left her with a head injury.
Jewellery boxes
The 30-year-old’s first burglary took place in Staple during the late morning of Thursday 7 April. The owners returned to find a smashed window, emptied jewellery boxes and noticed that a duvet was missing from one of the beds.
It was found the following day in woodland in Chalkpit Lane by a dog walker, who reported it to police because the duvet was blood-stained. Officers attended and searched the area, also finding discarded items from the burglary. Tests on the duvet confirmed that it was covered in Thatcher’s DNA.
Designer clothing
On Friday 15 April in London Road, River, a resident returned to her home to find doors forced open and the rooms left in a mess. Jewellery, designer clothing and cash had been taken.
The final offence was on Wednesday 20 April when the victim found him in her room. When challenged, he pushed her out of the way and left with her belongings.
Following an investigation by the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, Thatcher, of Folkestone Road in Dover, was arrested on Wednesday 27 April.
Upon his arrest, Thatcher’s phone was seized and an examination of the mobile data placed him in the areas of the three burgled properties.
He was charged with the three burglaries and jailed for 32 months after he appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday 30 May 2022 and admitted the offences.
Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson of the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad said: ‘Burglary is an invasive and unsettling crime. Regardless of what has been stolen, victims still have to deal with the prospect that someone unknown and unwanted has been in their home.
‘In this case Kyle Thatcher left three households having to come to terms with that violation of privacy and it can take time to recover from that.
‘Fortunately Thatcher’s reckless approach to his offending left behind plenty of evidence against him, which meant he had no other option but to admit it in court.
‘I wish all the best for the victims involved and thank them and those who helped with our enquiries, for their support in this case.’