A burglar who ransacked three homes was brought to justice after his DNA was discovered on a screwdriver.
The screwdriver was found discarded in the back garden of a property in Cranwell Road, Broxtowe, following a break-in on 24 August 2025.
The residents were alerted to the burglary when checking their camera app while on holiday.
When officers attended they found the back door had been smashed and the address had been untidily searched.
Louis Denham’s DNA was found on the screwdriver when it was analysed and he was identified as the suspect for two further burglaries in the Broxtowe area.
Officers carried out a series of raids and arrested Denham in November 2025, as well as recovering some of the items he had stolen.
The 29-year-old was charged and went on to plead guilty to three counts of burglary and two of handling stolen goods.
At Nottingham Crown Court on Monday (12 January) he was jailed for a total of three-and-a-half years.
Denham had earlier targeted another property, in Colchester Road, Broxtowe, where he was spotted going in and out of a home by a neighbour.
Items including a television, coffee maker, air fryer, jewellery and handbags were reported missing following the burglary on 2 April 2025.
The third break-in was at Alwyn Road on 21 November 2025 when a games console, headphones and a computer were stolen.
Doorbell footage helped to identify Denham after a still image was circulated on police briefing systems.
Detective Constable James Bravant, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“All these victims discovered their home had been ransacked and their personal space violated.
“A number of police teams were involved in the efforts to investigate the series of break-ins and bring Dehnham to justice.
“These include the crime scene investigators who ensured vital forensic evidence was secured, the burglary team detectives who built a case against him and neighbourhood officers who helped identify him and carried out the raids which led to his arrest.”
