A PROLIFIC thief who plagued homeowners in Mid Cheshire during a 12-month crime spree has been jailed.

John Healey, 26, from Coppenhall in Crewe, was jailed for two years at Chester Crown Court after admitting two burglary charges and asking for another 54 offences - nearly all sneak-in burg-laries - to be taken into consideration.

Healey roamed Winsford, Middlewich, Crewe, Sandbach and Congleton looking for easy prey. Police say the opportunist thief went to great lengths to break into houses when doors or windows had been left open.

Healey, who has told detectives he wants to go straight when he is released from jail, was the focus of a lengthy police operation after he was targeted as the man behind scores of sneak-in burg-laries throughout Cheshire.

Detective Sergeant Chris Hole, of Cheshire police, said: 'We were very pleased to arrest John Healey.

'Since then Crewe, Sandbach, Middlewich and Winsford have all been free from sneak-in burglaries. Prior to that those areas had all suffered from his 12-month crime spree.

'We concentrated a great deal of resources and effort on investigating these offences and identifying him as the offender. He became our number one target, and officers used entirely new forensic methods and technical surveillance equipment.

'Healey went to great lengths to sneak into the rear of houses, often climbing over walls and fences, but when he tried a sneak-theft at a Bargain Booze store in Broad Street, Crewe, he was caught on CCTV.'

But DS Hole said police were frustrated with residents who make life easy for opportunist thieves such as Healey.

He said: 'We issue repeated warnings to people to lock rear doors and not to leave cash or valuables on kitchen or hall tables and, frankly, we're disappointed by the number of people who seem to not take notice of these warnings.

'People must accept some responsibility for protecting their own homes.'