Four-year jail term for prolific Luton burglar

A burglar who targeted multiple properties in Luton, including a school, a pub, and the same home twice, has been sentenced to four years behind bars.

Wayne Carass, 44, pleaded guilty to a series of burglary charges relating to break-ins that took place between March and July 2023.

During one of these incidents, Carass attempted to climb through the victim's bedroom window while he was asleep, but he awoke in time to lock the window and prevent Carass from gaining entry.

The victim recognised Carass from a previous burglary at his address that occurred earlier in the year, during which his laptop and cigarettes were stolen.

Detectives from Bedfordshire Police's dedicated burglary unit, Operation Maze, identified Carass from CCTV evidence from the scene of each incident, which includes a school where money was stolen from a charity box and a pub where he was discovered raiding a staff-only area.

Carass, of Spear Close, Luton, pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary and admitted to a further offence at a local bus depot, which was taken into consideration during sentencing.

On Tuesday (26 September), he was sentenced to a combined total of four years in prison.

Operation Maze's Detective Constable Jason Wheeler, who led the investigation, said: "Carass's actions show a complete disregard for the wellbeing of those affected by his criminal activities.

"His attempt to enter a property while the occupant was at home, along with his theft of money meant for charity, underscores a shocking lack of empathy.

"Burglary causes a great deal of distress for victims, and our specialist team remains committed to addressing the issue and pursuing justice for those impacted."

Reporting crimes and suspicious activity to police is crucial for maintaining community safety and security. Call 101 or report online at beds.police.uk/ro/report.