Thieves who triggered police number plate cameras in a stolen vehicle shortly after driving it away have both been jailed.
At Harrow Crown Court on Friday (June 19) Khuram Zaman, 18, of Violet Road, Walthamstow, was sentenced to 14 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to burglary and aggravated taking of a vehicle.
John Dawson, 29, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment for aggravated vehicle taking at the same court.
At around 4.45am on 6 January, police were called to reports that a house in Ivanhoe Drive, Harrow, had been broken into and an Audi Q7 stolen by two suspects, the court heard.
A short while later, the stolen Audi activated Automate Number Plate Recognition cameras in Wembley, alerting police to its location.
Police followed the car until it came to a stop in Hampton Way, Southgate after the driver lost control., the court learned.
Dawson and Zaman made off on foot, but were arrested nearby.
Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Gemma Fraser, of Harrow Police, said: "The custodial sentences given to Dawson and Zaman show that police and the courts take crimes such as burglary and the theft of vehicles seriously. Both were very fortunate not to have seriously injured themselves or anyone else as a result of their actions.
"We would advise residents to store car keys in a safe place at night and make sure doors and windows are locked and secure."
