Police have warned workers in London’s legal district to be aware who they are letting in to office buildings, after revealing the methods of a burglar jailed for stealing office equipment.

Neville Stanbury, 49, targeted locations in Fleet Street and Chancery Lane over a five-month period from November 2015 to March this year.

Stanbury would wait for staff entering or leaving buildings and enter the premises before the door closed behind them.

Once inside, he stole items worth a total of £32,000, including Apple Mac laptops, tablets and mobile phones, as well as photography equipment.

Stanbury, of no fixed abode, was jailed for four and a half years on 4 October at Southwark Crown Court, after pleading guilty at the City of London Magistrates’ Court on 12 September to 11 burglary offences.

The thief gave a ‘no comment’ interview but was linked to the offences by detectives from the City of London Police through CCTV evidence.

PC Steven Bailey, who led the investigation into the burglaries said: ‘I want to reassure all those who live, work and socialise in the City that we take such offences extremely seriously. Stanbury seized upon any opportunity to gain access to office premises.

‘A door closing behind someone leaving the building or employees going into work – these were all chances for Stanbury to exploit.

‘I commend those members of staff who confronted Stanbury and escorted him from the premises. I also want to take this opportunity to remind people to be alert to who is following you into your place of work – if in doubt ask to see their ID badge.’