Cat burglar comes face-to-face with homeowner’s cat during raid
A burglar was thwarted after homeowners watched him prowl outside their house before coming face-to-face with their pet cat.
CCTV footage captured the bizarre moment Mark Lawson was caught crawling around the property on all fours while being eyeballed by the cat through a glass door on March 16.
Unknown to Lawson, the homeowners were also watching the 42-year-old’s movements through a mobile phone app and alerted police.
He fled the scene in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire after an alarm sounded but was arrested by officers nearby.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on October 13, Lawson was sentenced to 12 months in prison suspended for two years after previously admitting a charge of attempted burglary.
He was also sentenced to a total of six months in prison, suspended for two years, for three counts of handling stolen goods, police said.
Detective Constable Christopher Copley, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Lawson had every intention of breaking in the home of a family as they slept upstairs and was foiled only by modern technology.
“The swift and calm actions of the homeowner, who was understandably concerned for the safety of his family, allowed us to catch up with this offender almost immediately.
“I am pleased he has now been punished and hope he uses this opportunity to change his future behaviour."
