Dozy burglar asleep on job
Workers find raider napping in room above restaurant
Stunned staff at a towncentre restaurant were shocked when they arrived to find a suspected burglar asleep in a bed.
A barrel of cooking oil had been thrown through the front window of Christi’s, in St Faith’s Street, on Wednesday night before both floors were trashed and £1,000 of loot was hurled into a bag.
A holdall, containing three watches, half a bottle of vodka, an employee’s passport and an iPad, among other items, was left by the front door.
A second sack was found upstairs, while attempts had been made to steal a till.
However, it all proved to be too exhausting for the suspected careless crook and he fell asleep in the upstairs bedroom only to be woken by three bemused employees at 9am yesterday (Thursday).
Alex Buckwell, who has owned the venue for two years, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw him lying there.
“He was acting like he was on drugs and when he realised what was happening came at me with a screwdriver.”
Mr Buckwell, 23, said staff were able to restrain the suspect until the police arrived. Forensics officers were also called to the scene.
The business, previously known as
Nelson’s, has closed and is soon to be developed into three homes. Mr Buckwell, who only returned from a holiday in Turkey on Wednesday morning, added: “I suppose he thought the place was uninhabited, although when he got to the bedroom he must have realised people were still living here.
“I don’t understand why he didn’t just leave with the stuff he had or why he chose the window on the main street as his entry point. Why would you fall asleep?”
A police spokesman said: “We were called to St Faith’s Street at 9.12am on Thursday after receiving reports of a disturbance.
“Officers attended the scene and arrested a 35-year-old man from Tunbridge Wells on suspicion of burglary.
“The man is currently is custody.”