CCTV footage shows clumsy burglar fall while fleeing from police after breaking into Domino's and Costa

Luke Brice smashed his way into Domino’s, in Newbottle Street, shortly after 5am on October 21 and stole mobile phones and two till draws.

A short time later, police were contacted by a member of the public who could hear a suspicious banging noise in the area.

It turned out to be Brice smashing up one of the stolen till draws with a hammer.

Officers were swiftly deployed to the scene and spotted the 20-year-old inside neighbouring Costa which had also been broken into.

Realising he had been rumbled, Brice tried to flee on foot - only to trip over a step and fall to the floor by the door.

He was subsequently detained by officers and was later charged with both offences.

Brice, of Woodburn Drive, Houghton, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary when he appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside on November 5.

He will return to the dock next month when a decision will be taken to either sentence him at the same court or have the case passed on to Newcastle Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Chris Raper-Smith, who leads Northumbria Police’s Southern Burglary Team, said: “This was a case of a selfish burglar who targeted two business premises on the same morning for purely selfish gain.

“We were initially alerted to the incidents when a member of the public did the right thing by contacting us after hearing something suspicious. That decision allowed us to deploy officers within minutes and catch Brice in the act.

He added: “It was then a case of excellent policing between a number of officers as we recovered stolen property and detained Brice – who no doubt suffered bruises to his leg and his ego after tripping himself up.

“We will not tolerate this type of criminality and I hope this swift outcome offers reassurance to our businesses and the public. If you see or hear anything suspicious, as the resident did in this case, please pick up the phone and tell us.”

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