Burglar slam-dunked

A basketball-bouncing burglar has been slam-dunked by police.

Senior Sergeant Tim Anderson said yesterday the Hamilton man allegedly used the recovery of a basketball as a pretext to enter properties.

"If stopped, he would say he was on the property looking for his ball, which he had just found. If he wasn't stopped, he would gain entry into the home via a window and steal mostly cash."

The man was caught after police noticed a car linked to him parked on a street. He was pursued for two blocks through various properties before being caught.