A SHOCKED businessman was handed back his stolen car keys by police in the early hours of the morning after they caught the suspected thief in a nearby front garden.

Andrew Pike woke up at 5am to find his back yard full of plain clothed officers with torches, who told him his house had been broken into.

The 45-year-old banker, of Cheyne Avenue, Snaresbrook, was given back the keys to his top-of-the-range Mini Cooper, which the police had taken from a man found hiding in a garden further down the street.

Officers were called to the area at 5am last Tuesday (October 13) after an eagle-eyed neighbour spotted the man behaving suspiciously.

After arresting him they traced his scent back to Mr Pike's house using a sniffer dog.

Mr Pike said: "It's certainly not what you expect first thing in the morning, seeing half a dozen blokes with dogs in your back garden.

"I didn't know who they were because they were in plain clothes but they shouted up at me that they were police.

"The guy had got through my back door. He had unplugged my TV and other equipment ready to take them away.

"I usually get up at 6am, so if I'd woken up a little earlier than usual I would have come face-to-face with him."

Mr Pike thanked the neighbour who raised the alarm and praised the police for their help.

He said: "One of my neighbours had got up to go to the toilet and spotted this guy sneaking about in the street.

"I am really grateful to him. The police got to the scene really quickly and I want to thank them for their professionalism and courteousy.

"They get a hard time from many people, but they have been brilliant."

The suspected thief was charged with burglary and appeared at Redbridge Magistrates Court the following day.

He has been remanded in custody.