A burglar left DNA at the scene of a jewellery raid and a mug shot on CCTV when he forgot to put up his hood.
Philip Malone ransacked units rented by two women after he smashed through the front door of Market Deeping Antiques and Craft Centre on December 18.
Rebecca Ritson, prosecuting, said Malone left blood on two shelves at one of the units – which identified him through DNA profiling – and at one point he re-entered the centre, forgetting to put up his hood, and there was a clear picture of his face on CCTV.
Miss Ritson said one of the units belonged to a woman of 81 who lives in Cambridgeshire.
She suffers ill health and has not been able to visit the centre to assess the extent of her losses, but told police “it could be as much as £2,000”.
The court heard compensation for items taken from the second stand was likely to be £52.
No figure was read out in court but Miss Ritson said there was a substantial claim for compensation for damage at the centre.
Homeless Malone (36), who gave a “care of” address in Churchfield Close, Deeping St James, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of jewellery and ornaments of a value unknown
The court heard Malone also admitted assaulting two members of staff at Baston Garden Centre on December 16 when he stole alcohol that day and was challenged as he fled from the store.
One man was shoulder barged and the second was struck to the face, knocking off his glasses.
Sentence on all of the offences was adjourned to March 7 for a probation report and custody is one of the sentencing options.
Solicitor David Lee, mitigating, said Malone was a long-term heroin addict and had lost his home through no fault of his own and also his prescription for Subutex.
He committed the offences so he could go on the black market to buy Valium.