A PROLIFIC burglar whose booty included a child’s piggy bank has been jailed for two years after a spate of crimes.
James McDonagh was found guilty at Guildford Crown Court of three burglaries in Surrey and two in London.
In one of the Surrey burglaries, which took place on January 24 in Lingfield, he took a child’s piggy bank that contained around £100 in coins.
Two days earlier, he had targeted another house in Lingfield where he stole a World War I medal that had significant sentimental value as well as cash, a handbag and jewellery.
On January 10 he stole a quantity of cash from a house in Caterham.
Detective Inspector Paul Gordon of Surrey Police said said: “McDonagh is a prolific burglar who caused no end of misery and heartache to the victims at the beginning of the year.
“He stole a WWI medal of huge sentimental value in one offence and a child’s piggy bank in another burglary.”
McDonagh, 35, of no fixed address was linked to the first burglary through identification of a CCTV still image.
A DNA match from blood found at the scene of other two Surrey burglaries also implicated him.
He was arrested on March 18 having been identified as wanted on the Police National Computer.
On Thursday, June 14, McDonagh was found guilty of five burglaries and will serve two years in prison.
