VIGILANT neighbours alerted police to foil a burglary plot in Wollaton, a court heard.
Two offenders were forced to abandon their plan when detectives arrived at the crime scene.
Adam Blake and Shannon Dar
had left a betting shop to find somewhere to burgle in Wollaton Road.
They were spotted by residents opposite knocking on the front door of a couple at work on October 2 last year.
Both men disappeared round the back of the house and a door was kicked in, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
That triggered the house alarm.
Blake, 24, of Chippenham Road, Bestwood Park, and Dar, also 24, of Tonnelier (cor) Road, Dunkirk, were arrested.
Blake had previous convictions for house burglary in 2003 and 2005, attempted burglary in 2005 and assaulting a police officer in 2005.
He received 12 months in prison after admitting attempted burglary.
Judge Andrew Hamilton said the offence should have been charged as burglary as a door was kicked in.
"If it hadn't been for the alarm going off, they would have gone in and stolen what they could get their hands on," he said.
He told Blake:"You were caught because police came quickly and because neighbours opposite kept a close eye on what was going on and gave a full description of clothing to police."
Dar, who had previous convictions for robbery and criminal damage, was convicted of the offence after a trial.
The court heard he now has a stable address after being homeless since the age of 15.
Judge Hamilton gave him 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, with supervision from the probation service.
He is subject to a two-month curfew, between 8pm and 6am. He will be tagged, to monitor his movements.
The judge, who wants to check his progress on July 15, told him to get himself sorted out and warned: "I'm going to keep an eye on you."
