A TEENAGER burglar was caught because of his mum's concern for him and mobile phone technology.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Matthew Carrie dropped his phone on the canal bank as he fled from police.

But the phone rang after the police found it and showed the caller as 'Mum'.

"Naturally the police spoke to 'mum' and then went round to see her," said Neil White, prosecuting.

"She refused to make a statement but while police were there, the defendant's phone rang again and this time the caller ID came up with the number of a mobile stolen in the burglary."

Police realised Carrie was using the stolen phone to search for his own mobile and returned to the canal bank where they identified him before he ran off again.""

Carrie, 18, of Barn Gill Close, Blackburn, admitted burglary and was bailed for sentence at Preston Crown Court.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Carrie's mother had phoned because she was concerned for his whereabouts at 2.30 in the morning.

"He was under the influence of drink."