Victim chased Peterborough burglar down the street after early morning break in

A burglar who stole cash from a house in Peterborough has been jailed.

Lucy Hutchinson, 40, was walking along Lincoln Road, in the city centre, at about 5.30am on 11 February when a flat caught her eye.

Chancing her luck, Hutchinson tried the door handle and it had been left unlocked.

She went upstairs and into one of the bedrooms where she was confronted by the tenants, a couple, who had woken up.

They chased her out of the room but on her way out of the flat Hutchinson snatched a handbag containing more than £2000 in cash and bank cards.

She ran to a nearby convenience store, closely followed by the male victim, until she was stopped by the store owner.

She was held by her coat and questioned about why she was in the flat but was eventually let free and ran off back along Lincoln Road.

Hutchinson was captured on several CCTV cameras and was identified by police.

Hutchinson was already known to officers and is currently subject to an 18-month community order involving a year-long mental health treatment requirement, handed to her in March 2022.

Hutchinson, of no fixed address, was jailed for three years earlier this month after previously pleading guilty to burglary, breach of a community order, and failing to surrender to court.

Detective Constable Craig Trevor, who investigated, said: “Hutchinson is a prolific criminal with several offences against her name.

“Despite various means of support, she continues to break the law and I hope she spends her time in prison reflecting on her actions.”