A Cardiff man went on a burglary spree in the north of Cardiff before he was spotted by patrolling officers has been jailed.
Mark Burnell was arrested by officers on January 6, 2025. The officers spotted him rummaging through a plastic bag on Gillian Road. They had decided to drive through the area after seeing a picture of Burnell which had been circulated by somebody on Facebook – Burnell had been captured by a CCTV camera on a house he had just tried to burgle in Highfields, Llandaff. In the footage, he can be seen approaching the front door – panicking when he realised the resident was at home, he turned around, pretending he had the wrong house.
The arrest brought an end to a nine-day crime spree committed by Burnell. Since December 29, he had committed three burglaries, three attempted burglaries and eight counts of fraud, using stolen bank cards to buy a range of items such as perfume, make-up, a bottle of whiskey and a meal at a local Indian restaurant. His crimes were all committed in Whitchurch, Rhiwbina and Llandaff.
He bought goods worth hundreds of pounds with stolen bank cards and stole personal property, some which had significant sentimental value, such a photograph of one of his victim’s late husband which was never recovered.
Burnell pleaded guilty to three burglaries, three attempted burglaries and multiple counts of fraud by false representation. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, June 17, when he was jailed for four years.
