British expat, 51, is arrested in France after dozens of burglaries at holiday homes of fellow UK citizens
- The 51-year-old man arrested after admitting burglaries in Civray, France
- He committed at least 38 burglaries homes of fellow UK citizens who were away
- Local police raided the man's home following a tip off from neighbours
A British expat was taken into custody in rural France yesterday after admitting at least 38 burglaries in less than two years - most on the homes of fellow UK citizens.
The 51-year-old, who has not been named, was operating around the market town Civray, close to La Rochelle, in the west of the country.
The area is hugely popular with second homeowners from Britain, as well as many expats who are drawn by the good weather and relatively cheap property prices.
A 51-year-old man has been arrested after committing a series of burglaries around Civray, France (above)
These are thought to have been the burglar's main targets, as many left their properties poorly secured when they were away, and were easy to identify because of their car registration plates.
Local gendarmes raided the man's own home in a hamlet near Civray following a tip off from neighbours.
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They found 'nearly two hundred objects' that were not his including televisions, laptop computers, pieces of jewellery, garden equipment, and tools.
Many of the items had been reported missing during a series of burglaries in Civray and neighbouring villages by the man, who is unemployed.
A spokesman for the Montmorillon gendarmerie told the Nouvelle Republique newspaper that the man 'acknowledged' that 90 per cent of the objects recovered are of criminal origin.
When police raided his home they found 'nearly two hundred objects' that were not his including televisions, laptop computers and pieces of jewellery (stock image)
'Officers therefore went through the burglary complaint files registered in the sector in recent months.
'After listing the facts about our sector, it appears that since September 2014, the date of his arrival, he could have been responsible for some 42 burglaries of second homes in Civray, Savigne and neighbouring villages.'
The suspect denied carrying out all 42 burglaries, but admitted committing 'at least 38' of them.
He has no previous convictions, but now faces a trial and the possibility of prison.
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