Estate agents employee admits stealing from tenants' homes

Jenkins, 19, from Ickenham, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary at Harrow Magistrates on Friday (11) and is now awaiting sentencing.

James Gibbs, a partner at the firm, has issued a full apology for the incident. He told the Observer: "Gibbs and Gillespie is shocked and appalled by what has happened and is very sorry for any upset or loss suffered by the victims.

"This is the first time such an incident has occurred in 20 years of business. We took immediate steps to review our security procedures and change the locks of the premises concerned. Our insurers have been notified."

One of the victims, who lives in Bridge Street, told the Observer this week that she no longer felt safe in her own home and was upset by the serious breach of trust which had occurred after £400-worth of items were stolen.

The 24-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Gibbs and Gillespie manage my property, we have lived there two years, but there was no need for them to be in my flat.

"We didn't know what had happened. I noticed a few things were missing, we were thinking we had just lost them, but I realised there must have been someone in the flat and my partner reported it.

"The police then said they had my jewellery and someone had admitted stealing it. I want compensation from them [Gibbs and Gillespie] because it is a complete breach of trust, and as a woman who could be in the flat on her own it doesn't make me feel safe."

Jenkins admitted taking laptops, mobile phones, jewellery and a computer from properties that were managed by Gibbs and Gillespie, having stolen the keys from his employers. He will now be sentenced at Harrow Crown Court, on a date to be decided.