A crook accused of blowing GBP 150,000 he stole from his mother-in-law’s house on prostitutes and booze has been seized by police in Russia.

The suspect – not named by police in Krasnodar Krai – is said to have stolen a safe crammed with RUB 17 million (GBP 142,000) in cash plus jewellery and watches.

He is said to have spent almost everything on a series of wild orgies in Sochi, where he plied hookers lavishly with booze and gourmet meals.

The only part of his fortune left when he was arrested at his sister’s home – report local media – was some jewellery he had been unable to sell off.

Police cracked the case when the 33-year-old suspect – a career burglar – was seen on CCTV footage breaking into his wife’s mum’s house.

Footage shows the suspect and a getaway driver struggling to manhandle the strongbox out of the house and onto the street.

A taxi driver he had used later told police the suspect had told him he needed to take the safe to a locksmith because he had lost the key.

Officers returned the loot he had not sold to his mother-in-law, report local media.

The Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Krasnodar Krai said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “The investigative unit of the police department of the Khostinsky District’s Interior Department in Sochi has initiated a criminal case against the suspect under the provisions of Article 158, Part 4 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (‘Theft’).

“The sanctions of this article’s part provide for a maximum penalty of up to 10 years of imprisonment.

“During the preliminary investigation, the man is being held in custody.”