A man who stole from the elderly and vulnerable in a residential care home has been jailed for five years.

Hakeem Curtis Ojo, 43, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary at Croydon Crown Court on July 12.

Ojo, of Middle Road, Norbury, tricked his way into the care home, on neighbouring Stanford Road on April 4 at about 8am.

Police believe he followed a resident in before signing the visitors book under a false name.

Ojo stole the chequebook from a resident he knew before targeting two other flats and was found rifling through a resident clothing at which point he fled, leaving his bad full of stolen goods.

He returned three days later for a second visit.

Staff recognised him and police were called to arrest him.

PC Tracey Tarr, said: “Ojo tried to use the fact that he knew someone at the flats to explain his presence.

"However, accounts from the residents and staff completely contradicted this and coupled with the forensic evidence putting him inside the other flats meant that he obviously felt he had no other option than to plead guilty to burglary.

”The residents at these flats were extremely vulnerable and Ojo tried to take advantage of this, but thankfully staff were alert and he now faces a lengthy time behind bars.”