A would-be thief's attempt to steal cigarettes from a petrol station descended into a comedy of errors, as he was captured on camera falling over a staggering six times during his botched raid.
A Farcical Break-In Caught on Camera
Andrew Pickering, 50, embarked on a clandestine mission to raid a petrol and diesel supplier for packets of cigarettes. His plan, however, quickly unravelled. The footage shows his initial entry was less than graceful, as he appeared to fall into the shop via the roof before using a crowbar to break into the tobacco cabinet.
His escape proved even more disastrous. Attempting to leave the same way he entered, the ladder he was using gave way, sending him crashing to the ground. After several failed attempts to scale back onto the roof, a frustrated Pickering changed tactics and tried to jump over the service counter towards the front door.
The 'Inspirational' Footage Goes Viral
True to form, this move also ended in failure. His legs clipped the countertop, sending him flying back to the now-familiar floor. In total, Pickering was seen hitting the deck six times during the entire ill-fated episode.
Durham Constabulary published the clips of the attempted burglary on their YouTube account and Facebook page. The force dubbed it an "inspirational effort" in a tongue-in-cheek social media post. The caption on Facebook read: "It's not about how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up." The clips have since amassed over 29,000 views.
Justice Served After the Slapstick
The story had a final, less humorous chapter in court. Pickering, of Marx Crescent in Stanley, was jailed for 12 months at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court last week. The sentencing brings an end to a crime spree that was more slapstick than sinister, but which still carried serious legal consequences.
Durham Police confirmed the details of the case, which served as a stark reminder that even the most clumsily executed crimes are met with the full force of the law.
