A burglar used a mobility scooter to commit multiple break-ins in Rotherham before being caught due to a series of mistakes
Rotherham: So, there’s this guy, Miroslav Ilko, who decided to go on a little crime spree using a blue mobility scooter. Can you believe it? He was caught on CCTV rolling up to a house and making off with stolen stuff.
This all kicked off back in May last year and went on until October. The court heard he left behind some blood at one of the break-ins, which linked him right back to the scene. Talk about a rookie mistake!
He hit a place on St Ann’s Road first, and the owners reported a mountain bike and a TV missing. The TV was found outside, all damaged, and the bike was returned by someone who bought it from him. Classic, right?
Then, in August, he struck again on Hardwick Road. The owner had set up CCTV while he was away, and when a friend checked on the place, he found it had been burgled. Neighbors had footage of Ilko cruising in on his scooter. Oops!
Eventually, the victim shared the footage, which led right to Ilko’s home. His family even apologized and returned some of the stolen items. Can you imagine that awkward moment?
In September, he hit another place on Grosvenor Road, but this time, he only got away with some blankets. He was arrested again but was out on bail before he could even catch a break.
His last crime was on October 5, when he stole a mobile phone from a shared house. Fingerprints on the window gave him away, and he was arrested shortly after. Turns out, he had drugs in his system too.
His lawyer said he had been caring for his sick mother, who has since passed away, and got into drugs through a friend. It’s a sad story, really, but it doesn’t excuse what he did.
In the end, the judge gave him a two-year suspended sentence, along with some rehab requirements. She pointed out that he didn’t seem to understand the psychological impact his crimes had on the victims. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs.
