A TEENAGE crimewave, who was once dubbed Basildon’s ‘most wanted burglar’, has admitted 19 charges of burglary and vehicle thefts.

The 16-year-old, from Laindon, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court charged with a string of offences relating to burglaries in Vange, Basildon, Billericay and Leigh.

The offences - 12 burglaries and seven car thefts - took place between September 13 and November 22 last year.

He admitted burgling a house in Southwell Road, Benfleet, between October 18 and 21, a home in Dedham Road, Billericay, between November 6 and 9 and a house in Oldwyk, Vange, on November 11.

He further admitted burgling four homes in Picketts Avenue, Briarwood Drive and Kingswood Chase, Leigh, which all happened in one weekend between November 18 and 20.

The court heard that he stole two Mini Coopers, a Ford Focus, a Seat Leon, an Audi A6, a BMW X5 and a Mercedes during his burglary spree.

It is understand that many of the cars were stolen from driveways of homes that he had broken into.

Det Supt Kevin Baldwin, South local policing area superintendent, said that the boy had been a suspected ringleader of a gang of teenagers thought to be carrying out burglaries across Basildon towards the end of last year.

He said: “He was a prolific burglar and it has been a very difficult case because he was a juvenile and there are restrictions that that puts on us in terms of having him in custody.

“Evidence in terms of witnesses, forensics and CCTV footage also takes time.

“The key was putting teams together who made every effort in finding him.

“He was part of the teenage gang and we are pretty sure he was one of the main people involved.

“It is a great result for us.

“We will be looking at putting a criminal behaviour order on him so we can control his future behaviour by giving him strict conditions to abide by.”

The 16-year-old will be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court the week commencing Monday, February 20.

Anyone with information about the people committing burglaries can call Essex Police on 101 or alternatively they can call crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously 24/7 on 0800 555111.