Burglar Jamie Laver broke into homes and flats in the Roath and Splott areas of Cardiff.
He stole a 72-inch television from student accommodation and jewellery of great sentimental value from the home of a grandmother.
But his criminal spree came to an end when he was identified through social media and Retrospective Facial Recognition (RFR).
Laver was caught on CCTV in the Co-op on Splott Road using a bank card from a burglary committed minutes earlier on April 22, 2024.
His identity was unknown, so in May 2024 detectives turned to our Facebook followers for help.
Several people named Laver, who was known to Avon and Somerset Police, as the suspect and RFR confirmed the match.
Laver was arrested, charged, and later pleaded guilty to five burglaries, criminal damage, and theft.
The 30-year-old was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, December 12 to 28 months in prison.
One of his victims, a 68-year-old woman from Splott, has described the impact of the burglary.
“Since the burglary I struggle to sleep, I wake up and have flashbacks where my mind immediately begins to think about the burglary. I panic and worry that somebody could have been seriously hurt or worse still that it may happen again.”
Detective Constable Matthew Evans, from South Wales Police, said:
“We will use all available technology such as RFR and social media to identify and bring offenders to justice, as this case illustrates.
“Thank you to everyone who come forward with information.
“We hope that the outcome of our investigation will bring some comfort to the victims, particularly the lady in Splott and her family, and reassure the wider community of our commitment to investigating burglaries.”
