Would-be burglar called 999 for help after being pinned against ceiling by metal security shutters

A would-be burglar called police for help after getting himself trapped in security shutters and pinned against a ceiling. Instead of trying to evade the force, the hapless man, in his 40s, turned to the police for help after trying rob the tills at the Asda Eastgate petrol station, in Basildon, Essex, but found himself trapped when the automatic shutters activated, jolting him up onto the ceiling and wedging him there by his torso.

He dialled 999 on his mobile and shouted to police operations “Basildon, near petrol garage, Help me, ” before the call cut out.” It meant a huge emergency response was needed at 4.40am on Saturday morning as fire crews were sent out to free him, describing the scene as something resembling a guillotine. It is the second time in a matter of months where the shutters have seriously injured, but caught, people trying to raid the filling station.



Sub officer Sean Norris, from Basildon Fire Station, said: “The man had broke his way into the shop area and was going to the counter, but the security shutter screen activated and it impaled him into the ceiling by his torso. It looked like a guillotine and we had to use cutting equipment to free him. It looked like he had a broken leg as they are steel shutters. It’s very unusual. I’ve been doing this job for 21 years and have never seen anything like it.

“The shutters are there to protect the till staff if they feel vulnerable if someone breaks in – they just have to press a button and they go up in an instant.” Members of the public also called up the police’s control room, after hearing screams for help from the petrol station. Officers were quickly on scene with Asda security staff, a fire crew and paramedics and the man was taken to hospital where he was treated for leg injuries. The man was then detained by police on suspicion of burglary.