Two off-duty police officers foiled a burglary at a hairdresser’s.
The special sergeants were in High Street, Croydon when they saw a man burgling the shop on Sunday, July 10 at about 11.45pm.
Christopher Hayes, 40, had smashed the window of the store and stolen various cosmetic and shampoo items, which he put into a black bag, before making off.
Special Sergeants David Long and Steve Gardner rang 999 and kept track of Hayes as he escaped.
Police attended and arrested Hayes in Eldridge Road before being shown where he had dumped the black bag.
Hayes, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to burglary at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Monday, July 11.
He has been remanded in custody awaiting sentencing at Croydon Crown Court (date yet to be confirmed).
PC Tracey Tarr, from Croydon’s Burglary Squad, who investigated the case said: "Thanks to the quick thinking of the two Special Sergeants, Hayes was caught virtually red-handed.
"The training and experience of the two Specials meant that police were able to arrest a burglar and it’s also likely that they have prevented other premises from being targeted in the same way."
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