A burglar raided a couple’s home while they slept and drove off with the husband’s Land Rover, but was later caught due to a tracking device the victim had connected to his vehicle.

Michael Balog, 21, was on prison licence and wore an immigration tag at the time of the burglary at the semi-detached home on Eleanor Road, Harrogate, in the early hours of August 31.

He broke in while the couple were asleep upstairs and stole a purse, wallet and the keys to the husband’s Land Rover Discovery, said prosecutor Neil Coxon at York Crown Court today.

He said that Balog was on an electronic tag at the time due to “matters concerned with immigration”.

The named victim, who had parked his 17-plate Land Rover outside, woke up the following morning to find that the front door of the house was ajar and his car keys and wallet had disappeared. His wife’s purse or handbag, containing bank cards, had also gone, as had his Land Rover, worth “many thousands of pounds”.

Mr Coxon told the court:

“Fortunately, he had both the car and his wallet fitted with a tracker device and that was connected to an app on his mobile [phone], and therefore he was able to track the vehicle to the location where he and police were able to recover it.

“He even had his keys attached to the tracker device.”

The tracking app enabled police to find the car keys, which had been hidden behind a loose brick in a wall at Balog’s home.

Balog, originally from the Czech Republic, had removed the mortar from around the brick and slipped the car keys into the cavity “like a spy’s ‘dead letter drop’”, before “carefully” putting the brick back in place.

Balog was brought in for questioning but initially denied all allegations. He was charged with burglary and theft of the Land Rover and ultimately admitted both offences.

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Balog, of Kennion Road, Harrogate, was charged with a third allegation of attempted burglary at a property on nearby Wetherby Road on the same night but denied this and the charge was allowed to lie on court file.

He appeared for sentence via video link today after being recalled to prison to serve the remainder of a previous jail sentence.

Mr Coxon said Balog had five previous convictions for eight offences including burglary, vehicle theft, handling stolen goods and drug dealing.

In August 2019, he was sentenced to 16 months in a young offenders’ institution for burglary.

In December 2020, he was jailed for over two years for dealing crack cocaine. He was released from jail in January this year when he was fitted with a tag to enable police to monitor his movements.

He was still subject to the tagging order and on prison licence when he targeted the family home on Eleanor Road.

Defence barrister Jeremy Barton said Balog had stolen to fund a drug habit and pay off drug debts.

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, slammed Balog for “invading somebody’s house while [he] was asleep with his wife upstairs”.

“You took the keys and you took a vehicle that would have been worth many thousands of pounds.

“It is just good fortune that the [victim] had put a tracking device on the keys [which] were secreted in a ‘dead-letter drop’.

“Were it not for the tracker on the key fob, those keys would not have been found. There was good police work in this case.”

Jailing Balog for 22 months, the judge told him:

“You are yet again back before the courts (and) you only have yourself to blame.”

Balog will serve half of that sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.

A man has been arrested following two burglaries in a village near Boroughbridge

North Yorkshire Police said they responded to a report of a man breaking into a house in Marton-cum-Grafton in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The suspect broke into the house while the owner was asleep, but later fled after the occupant woke up and startled them.

The man was later arrested after officers found them in a hedgerow nearby.

Later, police received reports of garden tools being stolen from a property nearby.

A man in his 40s from Barnsley was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Enquiries are ongoing for both incidents.

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Police have recovered a stolen Land Rover which had been taken from a driveway in Harrogate and charged a 21-year-old man.

The owner alerted North Yorkshire Police yesterday morning after finding the vehicle had been taken overnight.

The two-in-one burglary had seen the keys taken from the house before the offender made off with the Land Rover.

Officers tracked down the vehicle and, while checking local CCTV, saw the suspect trying the door handle on another home.

The 21-year-old suspect, also from Harrogate, was arrested and charged with burglary, attempted burglary, and theft of a motor vehicle.

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The owners of The Dale Stores in Birstwith have pledged to continue serving the village after suffering a “sickening” burglary.

Andrea and Matthew Walwyn were sleeping next door when thieves smashed two panes of glass on the front door to gain entry to their shop and post office at nine minutes past midnight on Friday.

They took stamps worth £3,000 and a quantity of cash.

The couple, who have run the Nidderdale business for 17 years, told the Stray Ferret the incident had shaken them and the community but they had been overwhelmed by messages of support.

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The shop has reopened and although the post office is currently closed Ms Walwyn said they would be back at full capacity as soon as possible.

She said:

“We are really shaken. It’s just sickening. We live next door and think of the shop as part of our home.

“People have come in saying they have never locked their doors but they are now.

“But we want to fully re-open as soon as possible.”

Last year The Dale Stores won an award in the Rural Oscars competition organised by the Countryside Alliance, receiving praise for its ‘great service and great produce’ and for maintaining a village post office.

Ms Walwyn said she had been taken aback by the kindness shown by villagers in recent days. One man arranged for builders to sort out the damaged door straight away.

A customer arranged to fix the door.

Mr Walwyn put a post on their Facebook page saying, “It’ll take more than a scumbag chancer to bring us down. Andrea and I are here this morning. Nice people are very welcome”.

It prompted nearly 300 likes and a barrage of supportive comments.

One said:

“After all you both went through yesterday to see you smiling today is what makes Birstwith village shop the best.”

North Yorkshire Police is investigating a burglary at a rural post office in Nidderdale.

Thieves entered the Dales Stores Post Office in Birstwith at nine minutes past midnight on Friday (August 5).

The suspects smashed two panes of glass on the front door and stole cash and a large amount of stamps with a high value.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they have any information, saw anything suspicious or can identify the person recorded on CCTV.

“In particular, offices are asking local residents if they have any CCTV or dash cam footage of vehicles in the area at the time of the burglary.

“Anyone with any information is asked to email leah.fitzsimons@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for PC 950 Fitzsimons.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote reference number 12220137553 when passing on information.”

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Police have arrested four teenagers after a burglary in Spofforth.

Officers were called to the village after reports of a break-in at a house in the early hours of this morning.

Three 16-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of burglary and a 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary.

A North Yorkshire Police statement this afternoon confirmed that all four remain in custody and an investigation is ongoing.

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North Yorkshire Police has released CCTV images of a man thought to have information about a burglary at a home in Harrogate.

The burglary took place on Fawcett Drive in Harrogate at about 2am on Friday, May 6.

A man is reported to have entered a property and removed a wallet and cash. No further details have been released.

Police are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the man in the images as they believe he could have information that will help the investigation.

Further CCTV images released by police of the man they want to talk to.

You can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for PC 950 Fitzsimons or email leah.fitzsimons@northyorkshire.police.uk.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The crime reference number 12220076667.

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Antiques shops and dealers are being urged to be vigilant after an attempted burglary of a shop in Harrogate this week.

The shop at 27 West Park was targeted between 6pm on Tuesday and 6am on Wednesday this week, when a culprit or culprits attempted to enter via a side window but did not gain access.

A shop on Main Street in Hawes was also targeted in the early hours of today. Between 1.10am and 1.20am, a main broke into a shop on Main Street and stole items from inside.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“As a precaution, shops and businesses — particularly those dealing in antiques — are urged to be vigilant, and check their security measures. You can contact your local neighbourhood policing team for bespoke crime prevention advice.

“Officers are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the two incidents.

“In particular, we are appealing for residents and businesses to check any CCTV systems or doorbell cameras that may have captured footage of suspects or any vehicles driving away from the areas.”

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The suspect in the Hawes burglary is described as around 5ft 6ins to 5ft 7ins in height, of skinny build and wearing black clothing with a lower face covering. Police have not issued a description of a suspect in the Harrogate attempted burglary.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation at Harrogate can email ian.mason@northyorkshire.police.uk, quoting reference number 12220079988.

For the Hawes investigation, email heather.campbell@northyorkshire.police.uk, quoting reference number 12220080576.

Alternatively, call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and speak to the force control room, giving the relevant reference number. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A Harrogate resident is appealing for information after their beloved dog, Biscuit, was stolen during a burglary at their home on Branham Drive.

Biscuit the dog is a white and tan American Bulldog and has a white-tipped tail.

The burglary took place on Wednesday, May 4 between 9.30pm and midnight when the owner was away.

North Yorkshire Police said several other items were taken during the break-in and has asked anyone with information on the burglary or Biscuit’s whereabouts to contact the police.

The police said Biscuit is considered one of the family and is keen to reunite it with its owner.

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If you have information call 101, select option 2, and asking for PC Craig Brogden on extension 30116 or email craig.brogden@northyorkshire.police.uk.

Or, to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The reference number is 12220075872.

Jewellery has been stolen from a house in Harrogate.

Police in Harrogate are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened on Green Lane sometime between 3pm and 6pm last Saturday.

A North Yorkshire Police statement today said:

“During the incident a quantity of jewellery with great sentimental value was stolen.

“As part of ongoing enquiries, we need to hear from anyone who may have been in the area around the time of the incident and possibly noticed suspicious individuals or vehicles.

“In particular, anyone who was walking down the path between Green Lane and Rossett Drive.”

Anyone with information can email ruby.rutter@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101, select option 2, and ask for Ruby Rutter.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220060386.

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