A prolific burglar has been jailed for more than two years for crimes committed in Melbourn after quick-thinking villagers provided the clue which led to his arrest.

Joseph Mahon burgled two homes on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 4 – he ransacked one house in Orchard Road and stole an iPad, and also took silver tableware and jewellery in nearby Greenbanks.

Following the latter break-in, neighbours noted the registration of Mahon’s Audi TT and later that afternoon he was seen by Metropolitan police officers in London.

The 22-year-old was pursued by officers but they slowed down because he was driving dangerously.

The Audi was later found abandoned in North London and investigations revealed it had been stolen at another burglary in Bedfordshire.

Mahon was stopped in North London soon after and found with the iPad and jewellery stolen in Melbourn.

Property from the burglaries was also found in the Audi along with Mahon’s fingerprint.

On Wednesday Mahon, of Fanshawe Road in Cambridge, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary at Peterborough Crown Court and was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment for each offence, to run concurrently.

Investigator DC Ian Butcher from Cambs police said: “This is another prolific criminal locked up for a significant time.

“Justice has been done thanks to the prompt actions of neighbours, and the collaboration of officers attending the scene and their colleagues in the Met.”