A duo of prolific burglars have been jailed after police arrested them at an airport.

At around 11.30pm on Friday, January 5, a man returned to his home in Hainault Road, Chigwell to discover he had been burgled of cash and expensive watches.

When police reviewed CCTV they discovered the victim had been followed by two vehicles at 4pm that day.

The drivers - later identified as Ricky Lambert and Alec Deeble - waited outside the house until the man left at 6.45pm, giving them an opportunity to raid the property and then drive away.

Police identified both suspects and, having found out Lambert had gone to Amsterdam for the weekend, waited at Southend Airport on January 7.

Deeble went to pick up Lambert - who was wearing the same coat he wore during the planning of the burglary - in the same vehicle he used in the burglary.

Both were arrested and a key belonging to the victim was found under the front passenger seat of Deeble’s car.

Today (August 2) Lambert, 30, of Lillechurch Road, Dagenham, received six years for burglary at Ipswich Crown Court after previously being found guilty.

Deeble, 27, of no fixed address, received five years after previously pleaded guilty.

Investigating officer DC Ricky Rodd, from Loughton CID, said: “This outcome means two prolific burglars have been sent to prison for a number of years.

“Our communities can only be safer places to live with Lambert and Deeble locked in prison cells.

"I hope this outcome offers justice to the victim.”