The information helped lead police officers to Malcolm Pyke’s home, where the stolen equipment had been left out in the open.
A bungling burglar who left behind a rucksack containing his name and address at the scene of a crime has been jailed for four years.
Malcolm Pyke, 43, broke into a garage in East Herrington, Sunderland, and stole £150 of cleaning equipment on 6 March.
As he was making his getaway, he accidentally left behind a bag which contained letters bearing both his name and address.
This information helped lead police officers to his home, where the stolen equipment had been left out in the open.