A PROLIFIC burglar caught after a tip-off from a reader of The Bolton News has been jailed for four years.

Stuart Whittle was arrested and bailed after he was caught by a police dog breaking into two shops in November 2014.

However, he went on the run, featuring in the Most Wanted section of The Bolton News, and refused to surrender to police until he was finally caught by a plain-clothed officer on New Year's Eve.

Whittle, aged 31, formerly of Westwood Close, Farnworth, was convicted of four counts of burglary when he appeared before Bolton Crown Court.

On Wednesday, July 1, he was sentenced to four years in prison.

In the early hours of November 26, 2014, Whittle broke into Zam Zam News shop in Brackley Street in Farnworth through the store's roof.

He removed the ceiling panels and dropped down into the shop, only to trigger the alarm.

This alerted the shop's owner who was at home and had installed security measures that would send an alert to his mobile phone if the alarm had been set off.

He called the police who arrived within minutes. A police dog called Quade went into the store and caught Whittle red-handed.

Officers established that at the same time, Whittle had also broken into the shop next door - Bargain Masters - which shares the same roof.

Again he had smashed through the ceiling and dropped down into the shop.

Due to the damage, both shops had repair bills of thousands of pounds.

Whittle suffered minor injuries as a result of being subdued by the police dog and was bailed so his injuries could heal before he was due to be quizzed by detectives.

However, Whittle did a runner and was circulated as wanted.

His picture was displayed in The Bolton News and he was dubbed one of Bolton's most wanted criminals.

A member of the public recognised Whittle's image in the press as being the same man he spoke to just seconds after a burglary that took place at the home of a 92-year-old woman on April 13 last year.

This burglary happened in Park Road in Westhoughton just after 8.30am, and about 25 minutes later Whittle struck again on the same road.

Whittle was eventually caught by a plain-clothes officer who saw him walking towards the Co-operative bank in Knowsley Street in Bolton on New Year's Eve 2014.

He was arrested and charged in connection with all four burglaries.

Det Con Andy Devine said: "Stuart Whittle is the sort of prolific, career criminal that every decent, law-abiding person fears.

"His track record shows that he does not discriminate - he simply burgles whomever and wherever he can and I would not hesitate to say the streets are far safer now he is behind bars.

"We were able to finally track him down thanks to some excellent security measures installed by the Zam Zam News store which meant Whittle was caught red-handed.

"However, rather than face justice he cowardly went on the run. His masterplan backfired because by going on the run, we were able to issue his image to the media.

"Thanks to the call from the elderly lady's neighbour we were able to link him to two further burglaries, lengthening the time he will spend behind bars.

"Tackling burglary is an absolute priority for police in Bolton as we know how distressing these types of crimes can be for the victims.

"And in taking someone like Whittle off the streets it's a major victory for not only us, but also for our communities who can sleep that bit easier knowing Whittle is in prison."