A burglar who set up a business telling homeowners how to protect their home from burglars is back in prison for… burglary.

Sam Edwards, 28, launched ‘Sam’s Burglary Prevention’ in 2019 giving locals tips on how to avoid being targeted by thieves like his former self.

He said at the time he’d turned his back on crime – after allegedly stealing over £20 million worth of goods.

During his 11-year stint as a career criminal, Edwards claimed to have developed a wide set of skills, and boasted of being able to get through any door with a chisel more quietly than a homeowner could with their keys.

But the dad-of-one couldn’t resist putting his skills to use behind the scenes, and has been jailed  for three years and five months after admitting to 11 counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary in April 2022.

Police say Edwards stole ‘high value’ jewellery and items of irreplaceable sentiment from Berkshire homes after he was arrested following a joint investigation between Surrey Police and Thames Valley Police.

Detective Constable Steven Baggaley said: ‘Edwards has broken into 11 properties and attempted to break into a further one. He stole not only items of high monetary value but also high sentimental value which cannot be replaced.

‘A home is somewhere that you should feel safe and Edwards has breached this, making his victims feel vulnerable and unsafe.

‘The defendant now has three years and five months to reflect on his actions. This was a joint investigation between TVP and Surrey and officers will work relentlessly to pursue suspects and bring offenders to justice for these types of offences and are committed to keeping our communities safe.’

Edwards set up his own business, ‘Sam’s Burglary Prevention’ in September 2019, offering his services to those looking to tighten up their home security.

For just £20-an-hour, homeowners could receive his top tips which included double bolting doors, putting keyless car entry cards in the microwave, and having specific alarm systems.

He said at the time: ‘People can trust me because I’ve done this for a living, I know what I’m talking about. I can give the vulnerable peace of mind.

‘So far I’ve only had four or five customers, two of them had been robbed already and one had some valuables that they would rather keep hold of.’

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