Suspect thief falls through ceiling at Aldi in front of stunned shoppers - WATCH
A blundering suspected shoplifter plunged through the ceiling of a supermarket in front of gobsmacked customers while trying to make a great escape.
The man had been detained by workers at Aldi but, after he asked to use the toilet, he sneaked up through the ceiling and into the roof space.
However his bid for freedom came crashing to an end when he fell through the ceiling onto the shop floor in front of shocked shoppers at the store in Green Street, Kidderminster.
WATCH the moment the man falls through the ceiling
Despite all eyes in the store being on him, the brazen suspect then even tried to casually stroll out of the main entrance but was collared by a member of staff.
He was arrested and has been charged with one count of theft and one of criminal damage.
Kidderminster police released footage of the incident on Saturday via Twitter.
The post said: “The getaway techniques of our shoplifters this morning could do with a little work.... No one injured – just a little surprised!”
Pc Andy Forbes, of West Mercia Police, said no one was injured during the fall – thanks to a member of staff who can be seen on the film moving one woman and her young child out of the way.
Pc Forbes said: “A male shoplifter was detained by staff in the Aldi store, in Kidderminster town centre.
“He requested to use the store’s facilities and after a couple of minutes, staff noticed he was in the loft space of the store.
“We have no idea what he thought he could do or how he could get out.
“Eventually he falls through the ceiling while he’s trying to make his escape.
“The staff knew he was in the loft space as they could hear him scurrying around like a little hamster.
“Thankfully no one was injured, including him, and the staff at the store did a great job of moving customers out of the way.”
He added: “Obviously it is quite serious and humorous footage.
“It is certainly not something that happens on a daily basis!
“We just want to ask residents and shoppers to be vigilant of any suspicious behaviour.
“We want people to report incidents of shoplifting to us through the usual channels.”
A spokesman for the Kidderminster Aldi store said they would not be commenting on the incident.
