A hapless would-be burglar has been jailed for three years after he turned up on 15 doorbell security videos in one night trying to get into people’s homes.

Accused Kennie Owen, 44, was recorded trying one door after another in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, looking for a way in, police told the court.

Images clearly show trying door handles of homes in Werrington on the night of 12th July last year.

At times the sinister-looking crook looks straight at the bell cameras, sometimes trying to shield his fingerprints by wrapping his hand in a T-shirt.

Worried families sent the footage to Cambridgeshire Police, who then called for more doorbell footage to be brought forward.

Video footage released by police shows him boldly walking up to four different front doors at night and trying the handle in a bid to break in.

Owen was identified and arrested in Bretton on 16 July.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on 16th January: “Owen, of no fixed address, appeared at Huntingdon Law Court today (Monday) where he was sentenced to three years and two months in prison after previously admitting 15 charges of attempted burglary.”

Detective Constable Matt Reed, who investigated, is quoted as saying: “Owen tried his luck that night, hoping to come across a door that was unlocked where he would then carry out a burglary.

“This is a really good example of simple measures that can be put in place to prevent your home from being burgled, but also in helping us catch any offenders – video doorbells can sometimes act as a deterrent, but also clearly capture anyone committing crime, as was the case this night.”