CAMBS: Burglars found hiding behind sofa and in wardrobe

Two burglars who were found hiding behind a sofa and another in a wardrobe by police have been jailed.

Officers were called to the house in Lincoln Road, Peterborough, shortly after 7.30am, on December 7, after the occupants had been awoken by the sound of smashing glass.

Patryk Zajac, 24, of Russell Street, Peterborough, and Piotr Wojcik, 25, of Grange Road, Peterborough, had smashed their way in to the home before raiding the downstairs, loading a laptop, alcohol and other electrical items into the back garden before returning to hunt for more valuables. They also disconnected the phone line to prevent the victims calling police.

But while they were searching downstairs, the victims used a mobile to dial 999 then barricaded themselves and their young children in a bedroom.

Officers arrived and arrested Zajac, who was hiding behind a sofa, and Wojcik who was found in a wardrobe in a room upstairs.

Both admitted burglary and were each jailed for two-and-a-half years at Peterborough Crown Court on Tuesday, January 14. Both will be deported back to Poland on their release.

Detective constable Adam Blake said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the victims who could hear the offenders inside their home.

“They barricaded themselves in their daughter’s bedroom and called police. This has deeply affected them and I hope the sentence will help them to put this behind them.”