POLICE arrived at a Darwen flat in time to catch a man carrying a mirror climbing out of the window.
Blackburn magistrates heard that as they detained him a second man climbed out of the unoccupied home.
David Whiteley, 38, of Woodvale Flats, Darwen, pleaded guilty to burglary.
He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £43 costs.
Leslie Halliwell, defending, said that after an acrimonious divorce and a spell living in hospital accommodation Whiteley had eventually been allocated a flat at Woodvale.
"He was living with his girlfriend and his daughter and the only furniture they had was one chair, a number of sleeping bags and a fridge," said Miss Halliwell.
"The flat he entered was not occupied and he accepts he went in looking for items of furniture he could use."
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