Security footage has captured the moment a remarkably clumsy burglar squeezed through a small hole in a glass door, leaving behind a trail of blood and fingerprints during his ungraceful entry into a party shop in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. The brazen intruder, who made no attempt to conceal his identity by wearing a mask or gloves, executed the break-in on Monday, resulting in significant financial losses for the business owner.
Inept Intrusion Caught on Camera
The video shows the burglar initially throwing a brick at the door, then resorting to punching and kicking the broken glass to enlarge the gap. Using his arm and shoulder, he painstakingly widened the hole just enough to dive headfirst onto the shop floor, a move that was both slow and awkward. Once inside, he headed straight for the till, knocking items flying as he grabbed it from the counter, along with an attached printer.
Costly Consequences for Shop Owner
Shop owner Tom Meredith estimates the burglary will cost him approximately £1,800. This includes replacing the till, which contained a £100 float, the printer, and the damaged glass door. Additionally, a valuable display of 94 contact lenses was contaminated when knocked to the floor during the incident, which occurred at 1.19am. Mr Meredith also lost a day's trade while dealing with the aftermath, compounding the financial impact.
In a statement, Mr Meredith expressed mixed emotions: 'I’m astonished and shocked but equally, at the same time, it’s almost humorous that he would do what he did to that extent. He left fingerprints and blood stains. Maybe it’s someone who just doesn’t care and that’s why he didn’t wear a mask and gloves.' He added that it seemed strange his shop was targeted, given it contains relatively low-value items compared to other establishments in the town.
Historical Context and Police Appeal
Mr Meredith noted that he had not experienced anything similar since taking over the shop on Ambrose Street, off lower High Street, during Christmas 2022. While the previous owner had encountered minor criminal activity over the years, nothing as dramatic as this break-in had occurred. The burglar's exit was as inept as his entry, with him squeezing his body and the stolen till back through the same small hole in the glass door.
Gloucestershire Police have launched an appeal for information regarding the incident. Anyone with details is urged to contact them on 101, quoting incident 87 of March 23. The force is reviewing the security footage, which clearly shows the burglar's actions, in hopes of identifying the suspect based on the evidence left behind.
