A pair of hungry burglars were caught after they ordered 20 chicken nuggets at a McDonald’s drive-thru after their crime.
Carl Hodgson and Jordan Scott swiped £1,500 in cash, valuables and a set of car keys from an address in the Wardley area of Gateshead.
A week later, the duo became peckish and went to the fast food restaurant where their car, which police had earmarked as a ‘vehicle of interest’, was caught on CCTV.
Hodgson and Scott spent £9.41 on 20 chicken nuggets and two medium cokes during the trip on May 2.
Later that day, police began pursuing the vehicle before bringing it to a stop.
The driver, Scott, attempted to flee the scene but was found hiding in a pig pen on a farm in the Leam Lane area.
Meanwhile, passenger Hodgson was later arrested at an address in the Whitehills area.
Scott, 24, of Lingley Gardens, and Hodgson, 28, of Grange Villa, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this week, each charged with one count of burglary.
Both pleaded guilty, with Hodgson receiving a 15-month prison sentence, while Scott was jailed for one year.
Praising the Gateshead Serious Organised and Acquisitive Crime Team, Detective Sergeant Ian Ritchie, of Northumbria Police, said: ‘This is great example of everyone pulling together to achieve a positive outcome for the community.
‘Burglary can have a significant impact on property owners and the surrounding area, so it’s crucial we find those responsible and stop them in their tracks.
‘The team was relentless in its efforts to bring these offenders in. It demonstrates that we, as a Force, take matters such as this very seriously and will act on your concerns.
‘We would also like to remind people to remain vigilant by locking exterior windows and doors and keeping valuables out of sight.’
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