Man Caught Stealing Ring Doorbell by Same Camera

A man who ‘commits crimes almost daily’ was caught on camera stealing a Ring doorbell and jailed for almost 40 weeks.

Beau Houghton, 47, also stole an air fryer, alcohol and chicken, some of which was still on his person when he was arrested.

He appeared at Swindon Crown Court on July 1 charged with five thefts and possession of cannabis between April and May, and failing to surrender on June 18.

The first theft involved a Ring doorbell – doorbells equipped with cameras that allow owners to see who is at the door.

Prosecutor Adam Cooper said: “It is not surprising that he was identified from the footage on that camera.”

The camera has not been found. Neither have some of the two whole chickens stolen by Houghton on May 29, as well as sausages from Morrisons, Marlowe Avenue.

The shopping cost him £25, and some of the chicken was found on him. The same day, he stole e-cigarettes and wine worth £39 from Morrisons, Victoria Road.

Houghton, who “occasionally uses crack cocaine” according to his lawyer Gordon Hotson, also stole an air fryer worth £129.99 from The Range on May 15 and two bottles of alcohol worth £55.50 from Co-op on May 28.

The air fryer was recovered after being stopped by staff. That day he was also arrested with cannabis.

Houghton committed some of these crimes while on bail and serving a suspended sentence – an offender does not have to serve a prison sentence provided he does not commit further offences.

The court heard he had a “terrible” and “unenviable” criminal record with 76 convictions for 162 offences, 109 of which were theft-related.

The magistrate said: “You have been given many opportunities to raise your concerns but you have not taken them.

“You’ve been given community order after community order and they end up being violated.

“Your background does not convince me that there is a realistic prospect of changing your life.

“You continued to commit offences almost daily while on bail, in breach of a suspended sentence.

“The only sentence I can pass is immediate detention.”

Beau Houghton was sentenced to four weeks in prison for each of the robberies, no sentence for possession of cannabis and seven days for failing to surrender.

He will also have to serve the 18-week suspended sentence he breached, giving him a total of 39 weeks in prison.

He will have to pay £140 in compensation to the owner of the Ring doorbell, but no costs or surcharges to victims.

Houghton did not speak but let out a large yawn as he heard his sentence, before being led away in handcuffs.