This burglar dropped his vape at the scene of a crime - it helped police catch him

A burglar is behind bars after being matched to the scene of a crime by forensic officers who recovered his dropped vape.

Corey Rodgers, went on a steeling spree between January 19 and 21, 2026 in which he broke into five homes and tried to get into two more.

Four vehicles were stolen from members of the public during his exploits including a Mercedes GLA, BMW, Cupra, and Jeep Avenger.

However, he left behind a trail of evidence including dropping his vape outside a home he had targeted in Rotherham.

The DNA found on the vape was matched to Rodgers.

Officers monitoring CCTV also noticed that clothing seized during his arrest matched what they were seeing on the screen, and a video of a stolen car was found on his phone.

In total, Rodgers was charged with seven burglaries, including an offence from June 2025 in which he stole cash and jewellery worth £2,000 from an elderly woman.

Rodgers, of no fixed abode, was also charged with two counts of attempt burglary and four counts of theft of a motor vehicle.

The majority of the offences happened at addresses across Sheffield.

Rodgers, 21, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday July 29 where he was jailed for five years and three months.

Investigating Officer Ellie Davies said: “Rodgers is a prolific offender and I’m pleased he is now behind bars where he’ll be unable to cause any further harm to communities across South Yorkshire.

“Teams from across the force have worked together to secure this conviction and I hope a prison sentence can bring a sense of closure to those who found themselves on the receiving end of his criminality.

“A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to investigate burglaries and we’re always exploring new ways to link offences and target suspects.

“If you have been the victim of a burglary it’s important that you report it as soon as possible. This helps preserve important lines of enquiry such as forensic opportunities, which in turn helps us to quickly progress investigations.

“You can report information to us online or by calling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.”