UK's notorious 'Wimbledon Prowler' jailed for 14 years

The notorious "Wimbledon Prowler", a prolific burglar suspected of hundreds of break-ins in the plush London suburb, was jailed on Friday for 14 years, having finally been caught.

Through meticulous planning, Astrit Kapaj spent more than a decade defying sophisticated security systems to steal a fortune from houses in the district, also home to the Wimbledon tennis championships.

But a major police operation eventually caught up with Kapaj -- a 43-year-old Albanian national who worked in a fish and chips shop 160 miles (260 kilometres) away.

"You are a prolific, persistent and professional burglar," said judge Peter Lodder as he sentenced him at Kingston Crown Court in southwest London. "Such was your stealth and expertise in many cases it remains a mystery how you gained entry to their homes.

"Not surprisingly, you terrified the whole community." His evasion of law enforcement burnished his notoriety, along with his high-profile targets.

They included German tennis legend Boris ...