A burglar who tried to flee to Canada after going on a burglary spree across seven counties has been jailed.
Leonardo Velasquez-Valencia, 37, attempted to evade police after carrying out 10 burglaries across Kent, Essex, London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Wiltshire.
Kent Police received a report of a burglary at a property in Sevenoaks just before 7.30pm on February 8 this year.
The suspect left the scene by foot prior to officers’ arrival with items including jewellery, cash, a laptop, and a handbag.
Velasquez-Valencia was identified as the suspect after an examination of the property in Sevenoaks found his DNA.
After working with other forces, police found he was responsible for a number of burglaries between February 1 and March 29.
Velasquez-Valencia fled to Canada on May 25 but was refused entry for having $6,700 Canadian and US dollars on his person and no valid reason for carrying such a large quantity of cash.
He was arrested and remanded upon his return to the UK at Heathrow Airport in connection with the Sevenoaks burglary and a number of others.
Velasquez-Valencia pleaded guilty on August 21 at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent.
He was jailed for three years and nine months at a sentencing hearing at the same court on Thursday.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Joshua Littley, said after the sentencing: ‘Velasquez-Valencia committed a crime spree, for his own financial gain, giving little thought to the impact on his victims.
‘He callously stole heirlooms, sentimental jewellery pieces, and caused substantial damage to a number of properties.
‘His actions not only left victims feeling unsafe in their own homes but grieving the loss of items that held considerable meaning for them.
‘I hope the offender’s lengthy custodial sentence offers some comfort to those he wronged, and serves as yet another reminder to perpetrators and would-be criminals that crime does not pay.’