It will be an eight year prison stint for Darwin Dorozan, a man convicted of numerous break-ins around Langley and Surrey.

Dorozan was sentenced Tuesday morning in Surrey Provincial Court, said Sgt. Drew Grainger of the Surrey RCMP.

It’s been almost a year since Dorozan and his brother Dane were arrested by a Property Crime Target Team after a break and enter in South Surrey.

A follow-up investigation revealed links to many more break ins, including in Langley, White Rock, and New Westminster.

The duo targeted upscale homes for jewelry, electronics, and cash, said Grainger. They planned ahead and committed their robberies on weekday afternoons when their victims were out of the house at work.

He would phone homes ahead of his robberies to try and make sure no one was home, but on two occasions he ran into people still inside, and in one case pepper sprayed a homeowner to make his escape.

The 38-year-old was stealing to feed his addiction to heroin, his defense lawyer told the court after Dorozan pleaded guilty to 12 of 23 charges.

The defense had asked for a five-year prison term, but the judge found in favour of the Crown’s position.

“This sentencing will hopefully bring some relief to those in our community who have been victimized,” said Grainger.

Dorozan’s brother Dane is to be sentenced on Sept. 21.