Arnold Rickerby has been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court after taking the items from his victim’s home

Quick-thinking members of the public have been praised by police for helping to apprehend a prolific offender who burgled a woman’s home.

Arnold Rickerby, 47, broke into a house in the Gateshead area on the evening of Friday, June 2, before making off with several coats which contained receipts, train tickets and even the victim’s son’s passport.

After getting away from the scene, residents living in the area informed the victim, who shouted at Rickerby to give the property back. He then shook his finger at her and continued to walk away.

The victim followed Rickerby and called the police to let officers know she had been burgled.

She then told security guards stationed close to where Rickerby was walking that he had stolen her property and they managed to detain him until police arrived, as he raked through the coats on the ground.

After being arrested, Rickerby, of Chevington, Gateshead, admitted burgling the woman’s home when interviewed, adding that it was “a laugh and a chase”.

In a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Rickerby, who now has over 100 arrests and five convictions for burglary on his record, pleaded guilty to burglary and breach of a suspended sentence.

At the same court on Monday (July 3), Rickerby was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison.

Detective Constable Stuart Taylor, of Northumbria Police’s High Impact Team, today praised the victim in the case and the security staff who helped stop Rickerby in his tracks.

“We are pleased to see that Rickerby is now behind bars for his despicable actions,” he said.

“The victim was brave in pursuing him as he fled the scene of the crime and she acted quickly in what must have been a frightening situation to alert officers to what had happened.

“Our thanks also go to the security guard who was told of what Rickerby had done and was able to halt him with the assistance of colleagues before we got to the scene. I know the victim is extremely grateful for what they did and we are too.”

Det Con Taylor added: “We hope that the sentence handed down by the court offers reassurance to the wider community that as a Force, we will continue to do all we can to bring effective justice against prolific offenders.

“As ever, I’d ask the wider public, including businesses, to continue working with us to help deter opportunistic offenders by ensuring doors, windows and properties are kept secure and valuables out of view.”

Anyone who sees something suspicious in their community should contact us via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101. If a crime is happening or in an emergency, always ring 999.