A man has been jailed for 36 weeks for burglary and theft after a sighting by an off-duty officer led to his arrest in Hemel Hempstead.

Mark Butler, of no fixed abode, appeared at Hatfield Remand Court on Wednesday, August 16, where he pleaded guilty to charges of non-dwelling burglary, theft from motor vehicle, attempted theft from motor vehicle, and fraud.

Later that same day, the 30-year-old was sentenced 36 weeks in prison and ordered to pay compensation to three of the victims.

In the early hours of Wednesday, March 15, this year, Butler gained entry to the Ovaltine Court underground car park and stole two drills, drill bits and loose change from a Nissan van.

On May 20, this year, Butler returned to the underground car park and smashed the window of several vehicles.

From a Vauxhall, he stole golf clubs, loose change, and a set of keys. From a Mercedes, he stole a wallet containing bank cards, and a pair of sunglasses. He also smashed a window of a Nissan, but nothing was taken from the vehicle.

The fraud charges relate to the use of bank cards stolen during the theft from motor vehicle offences.

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CCTV enquiries confirmed that Butler later used the stolen bank cards to purchase items at Euro Food and Wine in Beechwood Rise, Watford. The bank later reimbursed the victim.

On Monday, August 14, an off-duty police officer based in Three Rivers was shopping in Aldi on Maylands Avenue in Hemel Hempstead, when he spotted Butler in the store.

He made the call to police and colleagues from Dacorum’s Operation Scorpion team arrested Butler a short time later.

"This case just goes to show that as police officers, we are never off duty. Even when we’re running errands on our rest days, we’re scanning our surroundings for anything – or anyone – that seems suspicious," said Detective Constable Rob King, from the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit.

"I’d like to publicly thank the off-duty police officer who spotted Butler and called it in, as he had been wanted by us for some time despite numerous arrest enquiries.

"Thanks to their quick-thinking we now have a positive outcome for our victims, and they can move forward knowing justice has been delivered.

"I hope this sends a strong message to those who commit crime in Hertfordshire – we’re always watching, and you never know when or where we’ll catch up with you."