Police applauded after nabbing burglar

Jun 13 2006 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

RESIDENTS in a Birmingham suburb turned out to give police a round of applause when a suspected burglar was nabbed - after breaking his foot trying to escape.

The suspect fled across the back gardens of homes in Acocks Green after an eagle-eyed householder spotted him lurking outside their home.

But in his haste to escape, the man injured himself as he leapt over a 6ft fence in Lytton Grove, Acocks Green, residents said.

And as he was driven away to hospital, residents who had been woken by the commotion came out of their homes to clap and cheer.

Police said the alarm was raised at 5.45am yesterday after an intruder was spotted in a back garden of a home in nearby Shirley Road.

The force helicopter was brought in the track the man as he tried to hide. Following his arrest, a rucksack was recovered in Chaucer Grove.

One resident said: "The police helicopter woke us all up this morning, but when we found out what it was for none of us minded.

"We saw a man sprawled on the floor with police around him and one of the officers said the man broke his foot trying to get away. I bet he wished he hadn't bothered. Some of the neighbours clapped as the police drove off with him."

A force spokesman said: "One man was arrested in Lytton Grove and a rucksack was also found. The man was taken to hospital."

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