Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday, 30th August 2024, at 12:15hrs
Eastham targeted an 88-year-old widow stealing her handbag containing photos of her late husband and cash during one burglary.
A prolific burglar who targeted vulnerable members of the community during a spate of burglaries has been jailed after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing when he appeared at Preston Crown Court.
In a statement released after sentencing, Lancashire Police said,
“This is Alan Eastham and he is a prolific burglar who preyed on elderly residents across Preston.
We put a stop to that and he’s now in jail.
During April, May and June this year, Eastham entered the homes of his victims through unlocked doors or by distracting them, before stealing items.
One on occasion, Eastham sneaked into the home of an 88-year-old woman whilst she was in the front room and stole a handbag from the kitchen. Inside the bag were photographs of her late husband and £440 in cash.
On another occasion, Eastham entered a home through an unlocked back door and stole sentimental wedding rings from the victim’s bedroom whilst she was in her garden. Two of these rings have been unable to be returned to the victim as their whereabouts are still unknown.
A search of Eastham’s home found items taken in the burglaries.
Eastham, 51, of Maynard Street, Preston pleaded guilty to four counts of residential burglary and fraud by false representation.
At Preston Crown Court on Thursday 22nd August, he was jailed for six years.
Operation Defender is a force-wide campaign that aims to combat residential burglary with support from Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.
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