A thief who tried to flee to Canada after going on a seven-county burglary spree has been jailed after authorities found he had £6,000 in cash on him

A thief who tried to flee to Canada after going on a theft spree across seven counties has been jailed.

Leonardo Velasquez-Valencia, 37, tried to evade police after committing 10 burglaries in Kent, Essex, London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Wiltshire.

Kent Police received reports of a burglary at a property in Sevenoaks just before 7.30pm on February 8 this year.

The suspect left the scene on foot with items such as jewelry, cash, a laptop and a handbag before officers arrived.

He was identified as a suspect after Velasquez-Valencia’s DNA was found during an examination of the property in Sevenoaks.

Leonardo Velasquez-Valencia, 37, tried to escape police after committing 10 thefts

After working with other forces, police identified him as responsible for a series of burglaries between February 1 and March 29.

Velasquez-Valencia fled to Canada on May 25, but was denied entry because he had 6,700 Canadian dollars and US dollars on him and there was no valid reason for him to be carrying such a large amount of cash.

He was arrested and detained at Heathrow Airport upon his return to the UK in connection with the Sevenoaks burglary and several other incidents.

Velasquez-Valencia pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent on August 21.

He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison at the sentencing hearing held in the same court on Thursday.

After going on a theft spree in seven counties, he tried to escape to Canada but is now in jail. Pictured is Heathrow Airport

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Joshua Littley, said after sentencing: ‘Velasquez-Valencia carried out a crime spree for his own financial gain, with little thought to the impact on his victims.

‘He callously stole heirlooms and sentimental pieces of jewelery and caused serious damage to many properties.

‘His actions not only left victims feeling unsafe in their own homes, but also suffered the loss of items that held significant meaning to them.

‘I hope that the criminal’s long prison sentence will provide some relief to those he has wronged and remind perpetrators and potential criminals that crime does not pay.’