Brazen burglar waved goodbye to owner as he left in stolen car

The horrified woman had been woken by an alarm and opened the window blinds to find herself looking at one of the gang who had just broken into her home in Hobart Drive, Walsall, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

She shouted at the culprit as he walked towards the car, which was parked on the driveway of the house, but he simply paused, waved at her and got into the woman's vehicle which accelerated away on March 29, explained Mr Paul Spratt, prosecuting.

But this was not enough for 18-year-old Dylan Hall who was involved in a crime wave during which he took part in four attempted burglaries in less than two days, it was said.

Three of these were in Ravensdale Gardens, Walsall, while the fourth was in nearby Mallory Road and the offences were committed between March 6 and 8, the court heard.

They first targeted an address with a Mercedes C Class parked outside but the bolt cutters used to spring open a door or window lock were not up to the job.

Their attention turned to a near neighbour who had a BMW 4 series car left on the drive but their efforts were no more successful, leaving them empty handed once more.

The fourth address picked by the gang was in close proximity and the occupant was woken by a knocking sound.

He went to investigate, looked at his CCTV and saw three people at the property before the barking of his dog put them to flight.

The Audi stolen in the Hobart Drive theft was recovered after a high speed police chase on April 2.

The fingerprint of Hall was discovered in the car which had two other men in the vehicle.

They were both arrested and are being prosecuted separately.

The defendant from Myvod Road, Wednesbury, admitted burglary, attempted burglary and theft of a car.

He was sent to a Young Offenders Institution for three years by Judge Amjad Nawaz who said: "These were deliberate attempts to get case by stealing the ignition keys while burgling the owner's home."