WATCH the bizarre moment a burglar is caught red-handed crawling through a pub and restaurant in a clumsy attempt to evade CCTV.
It was only a matter of time before he put stealing from bars behind him, or he’d be put behind bars.
Shamsul Islam, 40, left behind a trail of forensic evidence for police to find as he stole cash from bar and restaurant tills.
Islam, of no fixed abode, began his burglary spree in Bury, Greater Manchester in August and stole thousands of pounds in cash and property after breaking into seven different businesses while creeping about on all fours.
Finally, he was caught red-handed after a restaurant owner received a phone alert that someone was inside his premises at 2.15am and watched the burglary unfold.
Islam disturbed an alarm at the premises and left a small amount of blood after smashing a glass during his frantic escape that helped police identify him.
Described by police as a “career criminal”, he now faces a four-year prison sentence at Minshull Street Crown Court.
As the footage shows, Islam crawled on his stomach and hurdled over countertops to steal cash.
Police Constable William Loughran of GMP’s Bury Neighbourhood Crime Team, said: “Islam had absolutely no regard as he broke into small businesses in the Whitefield area of Bury and stole from owners who were rightly shocked when they saw Islam ransacking their livelihoods.
“Islam is a career criminal who had absolutely no right to be so brazenly entering the premises and taking what isn’t his.
“I would like to thank the victims, and everyone in the force that played a part in getting Islam arrested, and those involved in this investigation that has brought Islam to justice, including our Crime Scene Investigators who were able to prove that he was responsible for this spate of offences.”
The burglary spree
This isn’t the first ‘Johnny English’ coded burglary we have seen from Islam.
In a previous burglary, Islam dropped two disposable-cigarettes in a car he’d just stolen a victim’s coat from.
This made it slightly easier for investigators to link the cigarettes back to Islam’s DNA.
Just days after this attack, he gained access to a pub by smashing through the window – but he left empty handed.
An hour later, he was caught on CCTV breaking into another pub.
He broke in through an insecure ground floor window and footage showed him crawling the length of the pub floor all the way to the bar where he removed £200 from the till.
The next night, he was back at it again.
But this time, he tried breaking into people’s homes.
A police report states: “He pushed at the front doors and attempted to prise the ground floor windows open with his hands, after failing to gain entry, Islam moves on which shows the importance of ensuring your home is always secure.”
Three days later, Islam smashed through the ground floor window of a hair and beauty salon, while the owner was in there.
A tenant from above the salon heard the commotion and disturbed Islam by shouting “Oi what’s going on” to which Islam replied “sorry Ma’am” and scurried away.
Two days later, Islam returns to the pub he stole the £200 from.
He re-entered through an insecure window, crawled along on the floor, and stole another £200.
Then, he headed to a takeaway where he smashed the ground floor windows and took £200 and a mobile phone valued at at £1200.
But he accidentally left fingerprints and footprints for investigators in return.
This led to the penultimate point when finally provided enough evidence for police to catch him.
His breadcrumb trail ultimately put an end to his burglary spree across Greater Manchester.
