A prolific burglar who broke into Selhurst Park and raided five schools, stealing laptops, cameras and DVD players, has been jailed for two years.

David Foster, 32, also burgled shops and restaurants in Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, trashing many of the buildings he stole from. 

He was arrested on August 19 after police linked him to a raid at a Salvation Army building in Bromley.

That brought to an end to a six-week crime spree that police said accounted for "a big proportion of non-residential burglaries" in Croydon. 

The spree began on July 7 when Foster, of no fixed address, broke into Crystal Palace Football Club's ground and stole alcohol from a catering box. 

Over the following weeks he burgled Harris Academy South Norwood in Cumberlow Avenue; Cypress Junior School in Cypress Road, South Norwood; and the Phil Edwards Centre, a pupil referral unit in Sylvan Road, Upper Norwood. 

He also broke into Harris Academy Beckenham and Ravensbourne School in Bromley, as well as shops and restaurants in and around Westow Street and the Crystal Palace triangle.

Detective constable Drew Dunmill, of Croydon police's forensics team, said: "Foster targeted shops, business premises and schools over the summer months and along with the value of the goods or cash that he stole, he also caused several thousand pounds worth of damage to the premises.

"He was extremely prolific and was responsible for a big proportion of non-residential burglaries in the Bromley and Croydon area over the summer."

After arresting Foster in connection to the burglary at the Salvation Army on July 30, police linked him to 17 other raids. 

He pleaded guilty to 18 charges of burglary yesterday at Croydon Crown Court.

Det Cons Dunmill added: "A number of my colleagues worked on this case and thanks to their efforts, Foster was convicted of 18 burglaries and will be behind bars for a considerable period, which will be reassuring for the local community and those affected."