A MAN who broke into 11 cars over two nights has been ordered to pay more than �500 compensation to his victims.

Kevin Brown, 22, of Green Park, Chatteris, targeted five Volkswagen Golfs in March and Chatteris overnight between January 1 and 2, and a further six in March, Somersham and Ramsey, in the early hours of January 6, helping himself to sat navs, stereos and other valuables.

He and a friend, who has not been caught, drove around the towns and villages seeking out potential victims. But his luck ran out when they were heading home on January 6 and crashed through a fence of a home in Ramsey Forty Foot.

The pair ran off, leaving Brown’s own VW Golf in the front garden of the home. He later reported his car as stolen, but was picked out by a witness who had seen him running away from the crash.

Another witness had also noticed his vehicle being driven in a suspicious manner and taken down a partial registration which matched Brown’s car. He pleaded guilty to two charges of theft from a motor vehicle and asked for a further nine offences to be taken into consideration.

He was sentenced at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday) to a 12 month community order, ordered to carry out 60 hours’ unpaid work and 30 hours at an Attendance Centre. He must also pay �50 compensation to 10 of the victims and �15 to another who did not have any valuables taken.

Detective Constable Mark Yendley said: “Brown was caught thanks in no small part to members of the public who reported suspicious activity and provided different bits of information.

“While none of that information was enough on its own, we were able to piece them all together and bring a strong case for all the offences against him.

“This case shows how vital the public are and how any information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, can help bring offenders to justice.”