A SERIAL burglar who targeted homes across Poole has been put behind bars.

Justin Chappell, 40, stole items including gold jewellery, bankcards, tools and bikes during his spate of offences which began last summer.

On June 27, the defendant stole tools and bankcards from a vehicle in Allens Road in Upton.

The bankcards were later used fraudulently to purchase items at the Spar store in Turlin Road.

Then, on August 31, home security footage captured Chappell and another man forcing entry into the garage of a property in Turlin Road, where they stole a white Boardman bike.

On September 7, Chappell entered a property in Poole Road in Upton and stole a bankcard.

CCTV enquiries from officers showed Chappell making fraudulent purchases at the Co-op store in Creekmoor.

On September 25, Chappell forced entry to a property in Borley Road in Poole and stole large quantities of jewellery.

On the same day at around 6.45am, CCTV obtained from the home security cameras of a property in the same street showed Chappell leaving carrying a stolen shovel.

Following enquiries by officers it was discovered that Chappell had sold large quantities of gold to a local pawn shop, which were later identified as belonging to the victim.

The shop worked with officers to return the jewellery to the victim.

In the early hours of October 20, Chappell was apprehended by officers in Blandford Road after he was seen cycling on a black and green Carrera bike that was reported as stolen from a property in Dawkins Road the previous day.

He was arrested and subsequently charged with five counts of burglary.

Chappell, of Poole, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, February 9 to be sentenced after pleading guilty to all counts.

The defendant was jailed for three years and six months.

Investigations officer Max Surman, of Dorset Police’s Priority Crime Team, said: “We recognise the impact burglaries have on both residents and commercial properties.

“Thanks to our enquiries, we were able to identify Justin Chappell as the man responsible for these offences and bring him before the court to face justice.

“Dorset Police will always endeavour to take a positive approach to the issue of burglaries and other serious acquisitive crimes in the county.”