Two men who were caught on CCTV breaking into a home using a crowbar have been jailed.

Cambs Times: Shaun FergusonShaun Ferguson (Image: Archant)

The girlfriend of one of the pair, who acted as getaway driver, was given a suspended sentence..

Shaun Ferguson, 35, and Jason Kirkup, 37, broke into a caravan and then forced open a kitchen window at the property in the early afternoon of March 5.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Gaunt-Warner said: “Bouland visited the property just before the burglary to check if anyone was at home but was not aware that the victim’s daughter was upstairs.

“They were also clearly not aware they were being filmed on CCTV and a resident had also reported Bouland’s suspicious behaviour just before the burglary.

“We are committed to arresting those carrying out burglaries in the county and this case shows how important it is that people keep their eyes and ears open and report anything suspicious immediately.”

They got into the home in Milton Road, Impington, but fled empty-handed after realising a girl was in an upstairs bedroom.

Police were called and investigations revealed a third person, Lisa Bouland, 36, had driven to the property in a silver Vauxhall Signum about half an hour before the burglary, knocked on the door and checked around the back.

Ferguson and Kirkup had then been driven back to the scene in the same car before breaking in.

Officers arrested Bouland, of Rampton Road, Cottenham, and her partner Kirkup, of Cuckoo Lane, Rampton, the same day. Both had been identified from CCTV footage and the latter’s footprint was also found at the scene.

Ferguson, of Whitehill Road, Cambridge, was arrested several days later.

At Huntingdon Crown Court, Ferguson was sentenced to two years and eight months and Kirkup to one year and eight months in prison. Ferguson had denied burglary but was found guilty after a trial while Kirkup pleaded guilty to burglary.

Bouland also admitted burglary and was given an 18-month suspended sentence.

The force is prioritising burglary as part of Operation Hunter, which aims to put offenders before the courts while urging residents to take home security seriously.