Man captured in rooftop siege

Armed police captured a suspected burglar following a dramatic five-hour siege in a busy Black Country street.

More than 100 onlookers gathered in Bushbury Lane, Wolverhampton, as police negotiators tried to lure the man down from a loft he was hiding in.

The road was cordoned off to traffic, causing headaches for drivers who use it to avoid a stretch of the A449 Stafford Road.

Crowds, some drinking beer and taking pictures on their mobile phones, looked on as the suspect poked his head through slates on the roof to speak to officers, who had believed he was armed with a gun. Dozens of officers guarded a cordon at the site as police tried to convince the man to give himself up and get him out of the house.

The crowd was eventually pushed away out of view from the house after the man was jeered by agitated onlookers, some urging police to “shoot him”.

A 33-year-old man was captured and  arrested on suspicion of burglary.

Some residents were evacuated from their homes following the drama, which unfolded just before 3pm yesterday, as police prepared to swoop on the address. Some families waited for news at the nearby Strykers Bowling Alley. The raid came days after a string of burglaries in the street and it is believed the man fled into the loft to escape from officers.

Catherine Preece, West Midlands Police spokeswoman, said today: “The man failed to leave the address with officers and due to information received which suggested the man may be in the possession of a firearm, a West Midlands Police firearms team was deployed to assist with the arrest.

“To ensure the safety of local residents, a number of people from adjoining properties were taken to a nearby public building while the incident was ongoing.” The man was arrested at about 7.45pm and police said he was continuing today to help with inquiries.