Daniel Allan Thomas was caught on CCTV breaking into the shop last month - he left with thousands of pounds and cigarettes
Snared: The seller did not accept the coins from Thomas
A man who broke into a Post Office and stole cash was caught out after trying to use 1,000 pound coins to buy a car.
Daniel Allan Thomas, 29, from Port Talbot, went into the shop last month, before leaving with thousands of pounds and cigarettes.
He then tried to buy a second-hand Renault Clio and offered the owner £1,000 in loose change - weighing 9.5kg - which he had stolen from the post office.
But the seller did not accept the coins and contacted the police after reading about the burglary, reports Wales Online.
CCTV images were posted on the South Wales Police Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Facebook.
Stills: CCTV images were posted on a police Facebook account
Thomas was identified from the footage and arrested but initially denied he was the person pictured.
He appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Friday where he was sentenced to two years in prison.
Port Talbot Local Policing Inspector Tim Hopkins said: “Thomas was arrested and has now been sent to prison thanks to the support of the local community.
“The information provided by local people resulted in him being identified from the CCTV pictures and the work of my officers proved that it was him involved in the burglary as he tried to buy a car using the money he had stolen.”