CCTV footage captures the moment a burglar is caught red-handed by police hiding behind a counter in a restaurant he was targeting.
Stephen Clark, 49, was quickly tracked down by officers who found him hiding in the not so secret hiding place on May 31.
Clark had already targeted two other town centre restaurants within the space of half an hour.
The CCTV footage starts by showing Clark smashing the glass on the door of Budare, a restaurant in Sevenoaks, Kent.
A police officer then steps in and shouts: ‘If there’s anybody in this building, please come to the front and make yourself known.’
He soon finds Clark cowering behind the counter.
Clark then attempts to flee before he is tackled to the ground by two officers.
He was later charged with two counts of burglary and remanded in custody.
Clark attended a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court three days later on June 3, where he was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
Police Sergeant James Page said: ‘Clark caused considerable damage to both premises and stole cash from local business owners, causing them inconvenience and placing them under undue financial stress.
‘I am thankful to the officers who responded quickly to the initial emergency call and arrested Clark swiftly.
‘It is down to their teamwork that Clark, a repeat offender, didn’t avoid arrest.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE : Nine arrested for attempted murder after two men in their 20s stabbed
MORE : Man dies after he was stabbed multiple times in ‘horrific’ attack in London
MORE : Pensioner thought XL Bullies would kill her during terrifying doorstep attack
Get your need-to-know
latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.