A thief has been sent to prison for 32 weeks.

Simon Speer, 36, of Langley Grove in Sandridge was sentenced at Hatfield Remand Court on Monday.

He was sentenced after pleading guilty to stealing a laser level and screwdrivers from Homebase in St Albans on August 9, stealing sunglasses from a car in Hazlemere Road in the city, as well as interference with a motor vehicle where he tried the door handles of a parked car in the same road on the same day.

Police said they were able to identify Speer quickly from CCTV and said his actions had a “big impact” on the public who were concerned about a thief operating in their neighbourhoods.

PC Dan Bleach, from the St Albans Operations Scorpion Team, which deals in burglaries and robberies, said: “We saw an increase in thefts from vehicles during July and August across St Albans as many vehicles were left insecure. Speer would try vehicle doors and steal anything he could from those that had not been locked.

“Although Speer’s offending may have seemed minor, he had a big impact on the public.”

PC Toby Beaman said: “We are pleased that Speer has been given a custodial sentence as he paid no attention to the conditions of his previous sentence and carried on stealing.

“I would urge motorists to please make sure they’ve locked their vehicles and double check. Between 80 and 90 per cent of thefts from motor vehicle in the St Albans district are reported to the police by victims who say they do not know how access was gained to their vehicle.

“The majority of these crimes are easily preventable by simply locking the door. We have CCTV images that clearly show offenders trying door handles. If they are locked, they move on to one that isn’t. Make sure it’s not yours.”

Speer was already subject to a suspended sentence for thefts from vehicles in June and July.