Terrified family watch live on CCTV as burglar ransacks sleeping loved one's home

A horrified family watched as a burglar stole from a sleeping pensioner’s home, calling police as they watched their loved one be stolen from in live CCTV footage.

Prolific thief John Donakey picked his victim after he peered through the window and saw the woman was asleep, walking around to the other side of the property and entering the home, where he was seen creeping around, searching through drawers, and looking around the room.

A Ring doorbell camera alerted the victim's family to movement at the property and when they realised their loved one was being burgled they called 999, but officers were unable to find Donakey when they arrived, according to our sister paper Lancs Live.

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Video footage of the incident shows the 57-year-old enter the property with the woman asleep in the room. He then opens a drawer, puts on black gloves, and searches through drawers, bags and a purse. Detectives returned the next day, and spoke to people in the area in Penrith, Cumbria, who told them they'd seen an unusual vehicle in the area at the time of the burglary.

Whilst they were continuing with their enquiries, detectives spotted the vehicle and witnessed Donakey get out of it before wandering into the estate, matching him to the description given to them before arresting him. Donakey, of Bexhill Gardens, St Helens, was today, September 22, sentenced for nine counts of burglary and one offence of going equipped for theft. This related to incidents between 2018 and June this year.

Detective Constable Karen Minnion said “Donakey is a prolific burglar who had no issue with entering properties with no