Burglar came back for dropped phone

PRESTON, England, June 12 (UPI) -- Police in Preston, England, arrested a burglar after he returned to the scene of the crime and told the victim he had dropped his cell phone.

Investigators said Stuart Gardner, 30, dropped his phone while searching the home of Peter Diamond, 74, for cash, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.

Gardner, who police said left the home empty handed, returned to the house a short time after breaking in and spoke with Diamond.

"I'm the person who broke in. Can I have my mobile phone back," Diamond quoted Gardner as saying.

"I couldn't believe his cheek. He had some front to come back," Diamond said.

Police arrested Gardner after taking a statement from Diamond and traveling to the scene of another burglary nearby. They said Gardner was found with a sack of stolen goods and admitted to police that he had committed the burglaries.

Gardner pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary and one count of theft. He was sentenced to three years and three months imprisonment.