A homeless man who admitted a string of thefts from homes was remanded in custody and ordered to attend drug treatment court.

Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday that Neville Woods broke into three homes, tried to break into another and resisted arrest when tracked down by police last Tuesday.

His haul from the break-ins included cash, sneakers, frozen food and a radio.

The court heard a woman in St David’s alerted police after an attempted break-in last Tuesday.

She said that she was at home when she heard a noise at a window. She thought it was her cat, but when she looked out, she saw a man.

The complainant said the man claimed to be a landscaper, but she was suspicious because he did not have a vehicle or tools.

Police later spotted Woods at the Swing Bridge roundabout in St George’s and saw that he had a bag with a laptop.

They attempted to arrest Woods, but he struggled and officers were forced to use pepper spray to subdue him.

The laptop, along with a phone and a radio Woods had, were reported stolen later that day.

The victim, also from St David’s, returned home and found a window and a glass pane in a door broken and $1,020 worth of his possessions missing.

The court also told that Woods, 48, went into a home in Pembroke on July 12 and stole $400 and a $140 pair of sneakers.

He was arrested later that week wearing the stolen shoes, but told police he had been given them by the Salvation Army.

He was caught on CCTV on July 2 going into a garage in the same Pembroke street and leaving with frozen food.

Woods, who admitted the offences, apologised to the court and said he had slipped after three years on the straight and narrow.

He added: “It has been a struggle. At one point I had somewhere to stay. I had a job. I was doing good, but then things went downhill.”

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo ordered a social inquiry report and a drug assessment on the defendant. The case was adjourned until a later date.

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