Britain's dumbest burglar: Thief stole mobile phone from taxi driver ... but was caught after calling cab from victim's firm



A burglar stole a mobile phone from the house of a taxi driver - and then was caught when he used it to call the victim's firm to order a cab.

Jake Ormerod broke into Don Smith's home during the driver's night-shift and stole a laptop, a phone and car keys.

Ormerod, 18, then drove off in Don's girlfriend's Vauxhall Zafira which was parked outside on the driveway.

Taxi-driver Don Smith, with his partner Val Thomson, saw Jake Ormerod convicted of burglary

But the next day the thief used the stolen phone to ring Don's firm Price First Taxis and ordered a cab to pick him up from home.

Staff - who knew about the robbery - recognised the phone number and told him a taxi would be round shortly.

But instead they called police who sent officers to his home and Ormerod - who was waiting for a taxi - was arrested.

Val Thomson was at home when the theft occurred

He pleaded guilty to burglary and a charge of being a passenger of a vehicle taken without consent.

Alex Allsop, prosecuting at Torquay Magistrates Court, told how Omerod broke into the home of Don and his girlfriend Val Thomson on March 27.
He said: 'The theft occurred in the early hours of the morning. [The girlfriend] was present and on her own while her partner was out.

'A laptop, mobile phone and car keys were taken to the Vauxhall Zafira parked outside. The victim of the burglary was the woman's partner a taxi driver.

'Someone phoned his taxi company from his phone. Ringing for the taxi was Mr Ormerod.'

Ormerod, of Torquay, also admitted two charges of theft from a motor vehicle, the theft of a rucksack, and shoplifting a £4.87 pregnancy test.
Speaking after the hearing Val Thomson said it was a 'million to one' chance that Ormerod was caught as there are dozens of taxi firms in the resort.

She said: 'I don't think people realise how they can mess up your life doing something like this.'

In mitigation, solicitor Paul Dentith said Val had not been disturbed and there was no break-in.

He said: 'There was an occupier - and what that occupier says is that she was upstairs reading.

'She heard a noise and thought it was her partner returning home.

'She didn't think any more of it. It was not until he got home that they realised a burglary had taken place.'

Ormerod was given conditional bail and will be sentenced on on July 20. He was warned he could face at least 18 months in prison.

and shoplifting a £4.87 pregnancy test.

What a dildo.