Staffordshire Police

Interview with a North Staffordshire burglar - aged early 20's

How did you get involved in burglary in the first place?

Basically fell out with my parents and then my girlfriend. I went off the rails and got in with the wrong crowd. An old school-friend introduced me to the gear. I started smoking heroin. After a week I tried to stop but it made me feel bad.

I tried to get out off it by going on a programme but I missed one week and they threw me off the course because I couldn't keep my time. I tried to get onto methadone but they said it would take two to three months! I put down for it but had to carry on doing gear.

I was thrown out of home when my parents found out I was doing heroin. I went to live with my girlfriend but messed that up. After spending a week on the streets I moved in with an associate and his partner. He's a heavy heroin user. To stay there I had to pay my way by stealing to fund our habits.

I spent six-to-seven months smoking then moved onto injecting. The people I was living with got me onto this. It costs less because you get a quicker and stronger hit. I started off getting a warm, drowsy feeling but then started feeling crap if I didn't get a hit.

How old were you when you started?

I only started stealing in March this year. I'm in my early 20's now.

Why did you start stealing from people's homes?

To pay for the gear. My associate has his own car. He'd drive and drop me off to do a job and he also knows how to get rid of the goods and get cheap gear.

How much do you need to make a day to fund this?

At the beginning I had to make £20 - £30 a day. I was working up until Christmas last year so that was OK. After I lost my job I used up all my credit cards and ran up big debts. Then I started selling my own stuff like my stereo.

After moving in with my associate I had to find £50 - £60 a day to get three half grams of heroin for everybody.

How many houses have you broken into?

I broke into about eleven houses. No more. Honest.

How do you break into a house? What's your favourite method?

I smash the window with my elbow to get in. Other times I've just gone in through doors that people have left unlocked. I think I've done about three or four that way.

What is it you look for before you decide to do a house?

Easy access. If it's got double-glazed windows I never go for it.

We pick a place that's not on a busy street or main road. Then we drive past a few times and check if anyone is in - if there are lights on or there's a car on the drive.

I'll only do a house during the day or early evening - when people are out. I won't do it at night because I don't want to be confronted by anyone.

What do you do when you're in a house?

Basically, I never ransack it. I'm not into that. I'll pick things that I know will get me the gear. I'll go for electronic goods such as DVDs, videos and small TVs. Sometimes I'll take pottery - you know those figurines. I just take what I need to get by.

Are there any houses you avoid breaking into?

Yeah. If they're double-glazed. Also if they're next to a main road, if the next door neighbours are about, there's a car on the drive or a light on inside.

An alarm box you can see fitted on the front of a house would put me off.

What do you do with the goods after you've stolen them?

Basically, my associate sells them on or swaps them for gear. He drives around looking for likely people to sell to. Sometimes people put wanted adverts for pottery in the local papers. We just give them a call and meet them on a car park somewhere to sell them what we've got.

How much do you get for the goods you steal?

Well, we either sell it on or swap for half a gram of gear. I got £80 for a TV, video and Sky box the once. You can get around £20 - £30 for a Royal Doulton figure.

How did you get arrested this time?

Someone told the police they thought I was into stealing. Then they got a description of me from someone who saw me near a house I'd done over. Two police officers found me. Although I tried to turn and walk away, they arrested me. To be honest, it was a big relief to get caught.

Do you have any sympathy for the victims?

Yes, definitely. I do feel guilty - some of them have tried to help me in the past.

Have you ever been confronted by a householder in the midst of a burglary?

Never. I've never been confronted. I'd run if someone was about. I'm not violent. I don't want any trouble.

Have you, or anyone close to you, ever been the victim of crime? How did this make you feel?

My mum. She accused me of stealing their video. It wasn't me. One of my associates had been up the week before and he could have had it.

Why are you doing this interview?

I'd like to explain myself.

Are you intending to change your lifestyle? If so, what has prompted this change?

Definitely. I'm going to change my ways and get a job.

I don't like breaking into people's homes and stealing. I make a poor burglar. It's only the drugs that are driving me.