Burglar and accomplice caught thanks to suspicious taxi driver

Hashim Ali was jailed for 18 months over the burglary of a house in Stanmore Street, Burley, Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard Ali and a 15-year-old boy forced their way into the house through a window in the early hours of October 31 last year as the people who lived there slept.

They stole a large TV screen, a Playstation, mobile phones and other valuables. Neighbours saw them leaving the property with the items and the pair called a taxi to take them away.

The driver was then asked to take them to another property before dropping them off at a house in Ashley Avenue, Harehills.

Richard Smith, prosecuting, said: “The taxi driver became suspicious and drove around looking for a police car.”

Police went to the property later that day and arrested Ali and the youth after finding the stolen items in the house.

Mr Smith added: “In interview the defendant denied burglary. He said he had gone out with the co-accused and they had found the items.”

He later admitted the offence.

The court heard Ali was out of prison on licence for two offences of robbery at the time of the break-in.

He also has previous convictions for burglary and violence.

Ali, of Oakwood Lane, Leeds, pleaded guilty to burglary.

The court heard the teenager also admitted the offence and
was made the subject of a youth rehabilitation order and a
curfew.