'EastEnders' star Scott Maslen helps to catch burglar

EastEnders star Scott Maslen has revealed that he and his wife managed to catch out a burglar who stole valuables from their home.

The actor's Primrose Hill property was ransacked in June after 22-year-old Thomas O'Connor broke in through an upstairs window, the Evening Standard reports.

Maslen, his wife Estelle and their 10-year-old son Zak were asleep at the time and woke up the next morning to find that two iPhones and a laptop had been stolen. Estelle's handbag had also been taken along with a variety of other belongings.

Speaking of the incident for the first time, Maslen told the newspaper: "My wife had the foresight to put a tracker on our phone, which is how we managed to trace our gear. We lost jackets and clothes and money, but it was the phones and computer that we were really worried about.

"When we got over the shock, my wife had a moment when she said the phone has got a tracker. We got on Google Earth and traced the location and called the police."

The 40-year-old, who plays Walford's Jack Branning, added: "It wasn't as harrowing for me as it was for my wife. It really affects you psychologically when you don't feel safe in your own home."

Maslen also praised police for doing "a remarkable job" dealing with the matter.

Reports say that O'Connor was yesterday given a 22-month jail sentence, but is expected to serve seven months because of time already spent in custody.

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