A would-be burglar has been jailed after being spotted trying to break into people’s homes by 15 different doorbell cameras.

Kennie Owen, 44, tried to burgle a number of properties in Peterborough on July 12 last year.

Footage released yesterday captured the crook lurking in people’s front gardens and brazenly trying to open front doors – even making eye contact with one camera as he walked off.

In another clip, he used his jumper to mask his fingerprints when seeing if a door was unlocked. He was later seen trying two other people’s doors while shirtless.

Worried families sent the doorbell camera clips to police – after a public plea for more footage, the force was sent 15 different videos of Owen in total.

He was spotted trying to burgle homes in Derwood Grove, Ainsdale Drive, Merelade Grove, Candidus Court, Swallowfield and Lewes Gardens.

Kennie Owen tried a number of times to wriggle people’s doors open (Picture: Cambs Police/ SWNS)

The aspiring burglar tried to break into a number of homes in a single neighbourhood (Picture: Cambs Police/ SWNS)

Owen, of no fixed address, was arrested in Bretton on July 16.

He was sentenced at Huntingdon Law Court to three years and two months in prison after admitting to the 15 burglary attempts.

Cambridgeshire Police Detective Constable Matt Reed said Owen’s one-night burgling spree highlighted how important it is for people to protect their homes.

Reed said: ‘Owen tried his luck that night, hoping to come across a door that was unlocked where he would then carry out a burglary.

‘This is a really good example of simple measures that can be put in place to prevent your home from being burgled but also in helping us catch any offenders.

‘Video doorbells can sometimes act as a deterrent but also clearly capture anyone committing crime, as was the case this night.’

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He tried to break into several homes in a single night.