Crystal Palace burglar who crawled through dog flap jailed

Winston Papalaka, 28, of Harold Road in Crystal Palace, broke into a house in South Cambridgeshire in June 2021. 

Alongside accomplice 43-year-old Ben Hatto, Papalaka entered the house through the dog flap then ransacked rooms stealing a laptop, three watches, diamond and sapphire earrings, a Tiffany gold ring and cash. 

But unfortunately for the thieves, the burglary was witnessed by a roofer working on a nearby house.

He identified Papalaka by name and told police he’d seen him throwing items out from a laptop bag around his neck as he walked along the street. 

Papalaka had also been spotted acting suspiciously before the burglary.

One resident had noticed Hatto looking round the front of her home and ringing the video doorbell but when questioned he claimed to be looking for directions to the guided busway. 

Both men were arrested and charged with burglary. 

Hatto, of North Denes Road in Great Yarmouth, admitted burglary and will be sentenced in September. 

Papalaka denied burglary but was found guilty by a jury. 

On Monday (July 29) he was jailed for four years and six months. 

Winston Papalaka (Image: Cambs Police) Detective Constable Lisa Bacon, who investigated, said: “Papalaka showed a complete disregard for the victim by throwing some of the stolen haul onto the street. 

“I would like to thank the eagle-eyed residents and witnesses – the woman who noticed the men outside her home, the neighbour gardening, the man working on the roof of a house nearby and the neighbour opposite who noticed jewellery on the ground near her car. 

“Although they may seem like small snippets of information, this case highlights how these snippets come together to help us solve crimes.”