Two burglars were caught red-handed as they smashed open empty cash registers outside a restaurant.
Police rushed to the scene after being alerted of a break-in at the restaurant in Camden High Street, London on January 25 around 6am.
Shortly after arriving there, officers arrested Paul Haughey, 40, of Camden Road, and Jayvan Burton, 41, from the Camden area.
The duo were charged with non-residential burglary for stealing empty tills to which they later pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Haughey will be sentenced at the same court on February 18 while a date is yet to be arranged for Burton’s sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court.
Detective Constable Michelle Andersen, the Islington based CID officer who led the investigation, said: ‘Officers were very quick to get to the scene of the burglary, and were able to arrest both suspects before they could make off.
‘But even before police arrived on scene, their criminal plan wasn’t going well. CCTV shows them trying and failing to open the drawers of the cash registers.
‘But even if they had have managed that, they’d have found them to be completely empty.’
Shortly after arriving there, officers arrested Paul Haughey, 40, pictured, of Camden Road
After rushing to the scene, police arrested Jayvan Burton, 41, from the Camden area on the act
CCTV of the burglars: The duo were charged with non-residential burglary for stealing empty tills to which they later pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court
It comes after a brazen shoplifter was caught red-handed during a police ambush, before being told: ‘You’re nicked’.
Thieving Derick Bell strolled into the Co-Op in Lower Marsh, Lambeth, south London, intent on stealing as much as he could.
Entering the store at 8.30am wearing a grey hoody and black coat, the greedy 36-year-old started ransacking the store’s meat chiller.
But little did the villain know that as he was piling up cuts of steak, police hiding in the back room were preparing to pounce.
Dramatic footage, caught on body-worn camera, captured the moment a Met Police officer launched out of the room and charged the unsuspecting thief.
Sprinting down the aisle, Inspector Darren Watson grabs Bell while he was still attempting to pinch food from fridge.
‘You’re nicked,’ Insp Watson shouts, as he dumps the wide-eyed crook to the floor, before yelling ‘give me your hands’ as he arrests Bell.
The police ambush, which took place on Monday, has now led to Bell – one of Lambeth’s most prolific shoplifters – being jailed for eight weeks.
Thieving Derick Bell was caught red handed stealing from a Co-op shop in Lambeth, London
Brave Inspector Darren Watson is seen tackling the crook to the floor after ambushing him
Thief Bell, 36, looked stunned after being tackled to the ground by the police officer
Inspector Watson, from Lambeth’s neighbourhood policing team, said: ‘This is an excellent example of how the Met is taking a targeted approach to tackle the type of offending that matters most to Londoners.
‘We know shoplifting has a significant impact on businesses and shop staff. It often also fuels other crime and anti-social behaviour.
‘In Lambeth alone, our enforcement activity means 11 of the 14 most prolific shoplifters in the area are currently in prison and we will continue to take action against those who cause misery in our communities.’
Police carried out the targeted sting following several reports of theft from the shop.
After reviewing recent crime reports, officers arrived early and waited in the back office where they monitored CCTV cameras.
Bell, carrying an orange Sainsbury’s bag, was spotted at 8.30am as he started to steal meats from the fridge, while another stunned customer watched on in horror.
It was the second time Bell had attempted to steal from the store.
He was caught on CCTV just days before, on January 19, wearing the same clothes as he ransacked the meat chiller.
On Tuesday, he appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to two counts of shoplifting and was jailed.
