A man wanted for several crimes in Three Rivers has been brought to justice after an off-duty police officer spotted him at a supermarket.

The eagle-eyed copper was in Aldi in Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, when he saw Mark Butler in the store on Monday, August 14.

He called his colleagues and Butler, of no fixed abode in the Dacorum area, was arrested shortly after.

The 30-year-old pleaded guilty yesterday (August 15) at Hatfield Remand Court to non-dwelling burglary, theft from motor vehicle, attempted theft from motor vehicle, and fraud.

The burglary and theft from motor vehicle charges relate to two separate incidents at a block of flats in Ovaltine Court, Kings Langley.

In the early hours of March 15 this year, Butler gained entry to the flats’ underground car park and stole two drills, drill bits and loose change from a Nissan van.

On May 20, Butler returned to the car park and smashed the window of several vehicles. From a Vauxhall, he stole golf clubs, loose change, and a set of keys. From a Mercedes he stole a wallet containing bank cards, and a pair of sunglasses. He also smashed a window of a Nissan, but nothing was taken from the vehicle.

The fraud charges relate to the use of bank cards stolen during the theft from motor vehicle offences.

CCTV enquiries confirmed that Butler later used the stolen bank cards to purchase items at Euro Food and Wine in Beechwood Rise, Watford. The bank later reimbursed the victim.

Butler was sentenced to a total of more than eight months (36 weeks) in prison and ordered to pay compensation to three victims.

Detective Constable Rob King, from the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit, said: “This case just goes to show that as police officers, we are never off duty. Even when we’re running errands on our rest days, we’re scanning our surroundings for anything – or anyone – that seems suspicious.

“I’d like to publicly thank the off-duty police officer who spotted Butler and called it in, as he had been wanted by us for some time despite numerous arrest enquiries. Thanks to their quick-thinking we now have a positive outcome for our victims, and they can move forward knowing justice has been delivered.