A PAIR of 17-year-old youths have been jailed after admitting carrying out a number of house burglaries in Lowestoft.

In two separate cases which were heard at Lowestoft Youth Court on Wednesday, the boys, who can not be named for legal reasons, were both given custodial sentences.

One of the youths, who struck a woman as he fled a property in Lorne Road on November 8, was sentenced to an 18 month detention and training order.

In addition to the aggravated burglary at Lorne Road the youth admitted a number of other home burglaries.

These included offences at Kimberley Road on November 12, at Mayfield Road in Carlton Colville on November 7, at Harebell Way on November 5, at Edelweiss Close in Carlton Colville overnight 3-4 November and at Middle Way on April 2.

In the Lorne Road incident, a woman and her 14-year-old son had returned home around 5.35pm to find a figure standing at the top of the stairs.

The youth ran down the stairs and the woman made a grab for him but he struck her and escaped. However, he was arrested days later.

The other teenager was given an eight month detention and training order after admitting a string of crimes.

These included a burglary at a home on the Whitton estate on November 7, an attempted theft of a vehicle from Aldwyck Way on November 11, taking a conveyance from Laxfield Way on November 11 and interference with a motor vehicle in Denton Drive in the early hours of the same day.

Waveney Detective Inspector Darrell Skuse said: “The impact on the victims of these burglaries should not be underestimated.

“To have someone break into your home and steal items is distressing and often has a long-term effect on how safe you feel in your home.

“However those committing these crimes rarely see the impact they are having.

“We have had a number of home burglaries in Lowestoft during November and early December and police have been dedicating resources to tackling these crimes with additional patrols being made and the issue being treated as a priority by all at Lowestoft Police Station. These are among the first successful prosecutions for recent crimes and more will follow.”