Two career criminals with over 100 previous convictions have been jailed after DNA left at the scene of burglaries proved their guilt.
Paul Gallagher, 39 of Hayes Croft, Birmingham, was jailed for three-and-a-half years and Dennis Steenson, 38, of no fixed address, for 33 months after they were found guilty at Stafford Crown Court for a string of burglaries.
The court heard that Steenson wore a balaclava to break in to a property at Rednall Road, West Heath in June last year but in his rush to escape left it on a window sill. And when detectives sent it off for analysis a DNA hit identified Steenson as the burglar.
Gallagher was as careless and left a glove near to the scene of a house he broke into on Christopher Road, Halesowen in August 2014. He was also found guilty for a further burglary at Fillongley Road, Meriden.
The pair were also convicted of handling stolen goods after a Peugeot and a Ford Focus were stolen in burglaries on Trostrey Road, Kings Norton and Wynds Point, Northfield.
Detectives investigating the burglaries believed the pair were working together and a manhunt was launched. An eagle-eyed cop on routine patrol spotted Steenson driving a car in Tile Hill on 14 August which resulted in his arrest.
And, following information received, Gallagher was arrested in September.
Throughout the trial the pair claimed they were innocent, but the damning evidence of DNA and CCTV showing Steenson using credit cards stolen from a previous burglary sealed their fate.
Detective Constable Nick Betts, from the Force’s Priorities Team, said: “Gallagher is a prolific burglar who has been arrested or charged with 115 offences since 1989. He was identified in June as involved in these burglaries, he progressed to committing more offences with Steenson and the pair proved very elusive.
“The police officers involved in this investigation worked tirelessly to trace and house this pair. This has involved the use of a large amount of resources and appeals to the public for their help.
“Following intelligence and a possible location for Gallagher, teams of officers surrounded an address and secured his arrest. And a police officer on routine patrol spotted Steenson following an appeal for information.
“This along with the forensic and CCTV evidence helped secure their conviction ensuring that two prolific burglars are now off the street.”