A drug addict who broke into a home at Caister while the household was asleep certainly took his time to carry out the burglary - as he was caught on the security system spending more than three hours stealing �2,000-worth of items.

A drug addict who broke into a home at Caister while the household was asleep certainly took his time to carry out the burglary - as he was caught on the security system spending more than three hours stealing �2,000-worth of items.

Vitor Almeida was caught on a closed-circuit camera system installed in the property, first entering the bungalow at 3am but not finally leaving with the stolen items until 6.19 in the morning, after he had ransacked two rooms.

Malcolm Robins prosecuting at Norwich Crown Court said that although the camera system was switched on, the burglar alarm had been switched off as the couple had their three grandchildren staying with them.

Mr Robins said that police looked at the CCTV footage and recognised Almeida and arrested him. Most of the stolen property was recovered.

Almeida of School Road, Great Yarmouth admitted burglary on August 28, this year.

The court heard he had a previous conviction for burglary.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Peter Jacobs said that he had “cynically” taken the property over a period of three hours and 19 minutes.

Danielle O'Donovan, for Almeida said he had moved from Portugal about six years ago but had become addicted to crack cocaine and heroin.

She said he felt a great deal of remorse.