A STUNNED burglary victim who had his house broken into twice in one week has today told how he bravely chased a would-be thief.Darren Moles, 23, was only just getting over the shock of his house being ransacked in a burglary six days earlier when he heard banging at his front door while he was watching TV.

A STUNNED burglary victim who had his house broken into twice in one week has today told how he bravely chased a would-be thief.

Darren Moles, 23, was only just getting over the shock of his house being ransacked in a burglary six days earlier when he heard banging at his front door while he was watching TV.

When he went to see what the noise was he saw a man had managed to get inside the front door to his Bramford Road home and was trying to open a second door which led into his home.

He said: “I ran back in to pick my phone and my keys up and when I went back to the door he was still standing there. It was only when I started to open the door that he ran.”

Mr Moles, who works for insurance company Willis, chased the man along Riverside Road, on to Yarmouth Road, past Halfords and on to Surrey Road, at the same time as calling the police.

He said: “I stayed about 20metres behind him and I think he must have realised I was following him, but I managed to get a good look at him and tell the police which direction he was heading in.”

The chase ended in Sirdar Road when the man managed to evade Mr Moles and a nearby police patrol.

Mr Moles, who had just had an operation to correct shin splints in both his legs, said: “I only came out of hospital a couple of weeks earlier and I've got four-inch scars on both shins but I just didn't think. Once my adrenalin was flowing I didn't feel any pain.”

The burglary attempt, which happened on December 18, was the second time Mr Moles' home had been targeted that week.

On December 12 he arrived home from visiting his family to find his house turned upside down and more than £1,000 worth of belongings missing.

He said: “I couldn't believe it - the living room was trashed, my bedroom was trashed, everything was just a complete mess.

“It's absolutely horrible knowing that someone's gone through all of your personal stuff like that. I couldn't bring myself to clear my bedroom up for three days and I still feel nervous when I am in the house on my own at night.”

If you have any information about either incident call Pc David Henderson at Ipswich police on 01473 613500 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.