Moment bungling thief crawls through bar on all fours to avoid CCTV

A bungling burglar who crawled on all fours around pubs and restaurants in a bid to evade CCTV whilst on a thieving spree has been jailed for four years. 

'Brazen' Shamsul Islam, 40, stole thousands of pounds in cash and goods after breaking into seven different establishments and creeping around on his hands and knees.

However the thief, who believed his less than discreet technique kept his identity concealed, was brought to justice after leaving behind a trail of footprints and fingerprints in his wake. 

After being captured by several CCTV cameras in a building in Bury, Greater Manchester, he was eventually rumbled when a restaurant owner was alerted to the burglary in the early hours of the morning thanks to CCTV linked to his phone.   

In a hurry to scurry away Islam injured himself on a piece of glass as alarm rung out, leaving a small amount of blood for police to identify him. 

Islam, of no fixed abode, was dubbed a 'career criminal' by police after his crime spree began in August.

Police also discovered two disposable e-cigarettes which were dropped inside a vehicle by Islam from a stolen coat, used to connect him to other crimes.

Islam's burglary spree began along Heathfield Road in Bury, on August 19 this year, when he stole a coat from a car before fleeing the scene.

At around 3am on August 28, Islam then gained entry to a pub in Whitefield by smashing the ground floor window but did not take anything.

However, one hour later, he broke into a pub on Bury New Road, where he crawled his way to the till and stole £200.

On September 1, Islam smashed the ground floor window of a hair and beauty salon on Radcliffe New Road, whilst the owner was working in the store.

This was heard by the tenant of the flat above who shouted 'Oi what's going on'. Islam replied 'Sorry Ma'am', before running away.

Two days later, on September 3, Islam went back to the bar that he had burgled in the Whitefield area.

He entered through a window before crawling on his stomach in a disastrous attempt to evade being seen by the numerous CCTV cameras, however still managed to pilfer £200 from the till.

On September 4, Islam went to a takeaway on Bury New Road at 11pm and smashed the ground floor window to gain entry.

He took £200 and a work mobile phone valued at £1200, all whilst leaving behind a number of footprints and fingerprints

His burglary spreed came to an end he smashed his way into a restaurant on Sefton Street, Whitefield alerting the restaurant owner thanks to CCTV linked to his mobile phone.

He watched on as Islam proceeded to crawl over the bar to reach the till before attempting to ransack it for cash.

He was thankfully disturbed by the intruder alarm and he quickly climbed back over the bar, smashing multiple wine glasses on his way out.

A small trace of blood was located by crime scene investigators as Islam injured himself getting out of the premises through the smashed window.

This evidence put an end to Islam's burgling spree across Bury, where he found himself in police custody.

He has since been found guilty of burglary at Minshull Street Crown Court last week and handed a four-year prison sentence.

PC William Loughran, from Greater Manchester Police, said after his sentencing: '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.'