AN EAGLE-eyed neighbour helped foil an early-morning burglary after being woken by the sound of foxes mating.

The unnamed woman spotted thief Vytautas Razas jumping over a back wall in Lorne Gardens, Wanstead - after she was startled by the noise made by the amorous animals at about 3.30am.

Unaware that the police were on their way, Razas, continued to try to break into the house and steal the keys for a luxury car parked nearby.

But the hapless 21 year-old was unable to get into the property, and tried to make a run for it, only to be cornered by police in Burnham Crescent.

He was charged with the break-in after DNA evidence connected him to the crime scene.

Razas, of Ashford Road, East Ham, was jailed for 19 months for attempted burglary at Snaresbrook Crown Court last Monday.

His conviction comes just a week after another Wanstead family - the Johals - had five luxury vehicles stolen from their driveway by a gang of thieves in the early hours of the morning.

The home's owner, Anna Maris, thanked her neighbour - and the foxes - for helping to foil the burglary, on May 2 this year.

She said: "I'm really grateful to the person who raised the alarm.

"It's quite funny how he got spotted I suppose, but I'm relieved he didn't get into the house.

"The noise foxes make is horrible, like hearing a baby being murdered or something, but on this occasion I'm glad they got the urge when they did.

"I know the police get a bit of a bashing from people sometimes, but I can't praise them highly enough for how quickly they got to the scene to find this man.

"They even sent a police helicopter."

The 41 year-old mum-of-one, who celebrated her birthday on the day of the incident, warned other residents to be on their guard.

She said: "People need to be really careful when they own expensive cars.

"I'd even go so far as to advise people not to buy brand new ones in the first place."