A THIEF spotted on doorbell footage looking for items to steal outside homes in Harlow has been jailed within days of officers tracking him down and arresting him.

On Friday 24 January, our Harlow town centre team received reports of a man taking items including shoes and a doorbell camera from outside a home in the Westfield area.

It was further reported he was scanning the area outside properties with a torch.

Appeals were shared on a local Facebook group and members of the public contacted us.

As a result of further enquiries, officers stopped and searched a man in Harlow town centre later that evening, recovering a knife and a small amount of cocaine.

A pair of shoes, suspected to be stolen, were also recovered.

Charges were later secured against Rafal Czerwik, 43, of no fixed address.

Appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday 27 January, he admitted theft, possession of a knife in a public place, and possession of a Class A drug.

He was promptly sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

PC Allen Kittles, of Harlow town centre team, said:

“This case exemplifies the importance of keeping in touch with us about any suspicious activity in your area.

“The theft of any property is never simply ‘low level’ offending, it is a violating offence that can leave members of our community feeling insecure and unsafe in their own homes or in their own towns.

“I would like to thank those who got in touch with us to report this offending and footage, which proved vital to making a swift arrest and securing charges.”