THE detective who investigated a burglar responsible for stealing designer gear as she raided three Carlisle properties has said all householders should be able to feel safe in their home.

Angenila Warnke, 41, also used credit cards that she stole in the series of burglaries last month to go shopping in Carlisle. 

At Carlisle Crown Court, she admitted the three burglaries, six credit card frauds, and vehicle interference, she was jailed for 18 months. The court heard how she stole a Louis Vuitton handbag and Gucci branded goods.

At her Rydal Street home, police found a stash of wigs and spectacles which she had used to disguise herself during the audacious raids.

Commenting after the case, Detective Constable Elinor Murray, who oversaw the case, said: “People should feel secure in their own homes in Carlisle– and we take extremely seriously any burglaries.

“Warnke embarked on a crime spree that saw her target residential properties, even while people were still in their homes.

“She thought she could just enter where she shouldn’t be and take what didn’t belong to her. But she was caught - and those who carry out similar offences can also expect to face a police investigation and prosecution.”

The defendant broke into properties in Garfield Street, Denton Holme, on June 12; Linton Close, off Lindisfarne Street, on June 14, and Pennine Gardens, off Pennine Way, Harraby, five days later.

The victim of the first burglary was a nurse.

In her statement, she said that the burglary had left her feeling unsettled in her own home and fearful that the burglar, who took her keys, would return. “When you are in your own house, you should be able to feel safe and secure,” she said.

“You should be able to leave your window open… It plays over and over in my mind and causes me to worry. The incident has left me feeling like I want to move out of my current address.

“I just don’t feel safe there.”

The second victim said he kept wondering whether Warnke had been in his bedroom while he was asleep. He said he felt sorry for Warnke, knowing that she felt she needed to do something such as this.

The third victim – who woke from a nap on his settee to find the defendant staring at him before she asked him for a carrier bag for her loot – said he now ensured his doors and windows were locked even when he was at home.

Defence lawyer Jeff Smith said Warnke was a woman of previous good character, who had suffered domestic violence. The only explanation she could offer for her ten day crime spree, said the lawyer, was that the tobacco she had been using had been “laced with drugs.”

But as he jailed her, Recorder Ian Unsworth QC said Warnke – who wept throughout the hearing – had shown contempt for her victims.  Her disguises betrayed a degree of planning, said the judge.

“You are crying now,” said the judge. “I am sure those tears are for yourself. You have shown precious little remorse or understanding for those householders.” You can read the full court report about Warnke's crimes on this Carlisle designer handbag burglar used disguises, court told