Video: Scratchings stolen by an intruder through the ceiling
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5 Mar 2025 •
Reading time: 3 minutes An unusual burglary is rocking the city of Nottingham. On 21 February 2025, a man stormed a Sainsbury’s superstore using a highly original method: he broke in through the ceiling. But what really happened?
A daring diversion
The story begins early in the morning, at around 6.10am, in the Waverley Street area of Nottingham, when a man managed to enter a Sainsbury’s supermarket by scaling the shop’s ceiling. An unusual modus operandi, but effective. The heist seemed to have been orchestrated with discretion in mind, as the store was closed at the time, with no customers in sight.
It was when staff saw legs dangling from a hole in the ceiling that they immediately realised something was wrong. Fortunately, they reacted quickly and raised the alarm.
On seeing the situation, the team on site wasted no time. Alerted by this strange sight, they notified the authorities, who arrived on the scene in a record time of six minutes. The police had been alerted in time thanks to the vigilance of the employees, but what was the scale of the theft?
£200 in scratch cards and other merchandise
Once inside the shop, the thief made his way to the National Lottery scratch cards, a real treasure trove for gambling fans. He stole scratch cards worth a total of £200. But that wasn’t all: taking advantage of his access to the supermarket, he also grabbed other products such as washing-up liquid, crisps and various food items.
Having made off with his booty, he escaped discreetly through the shop’s emergency exit. But his escape did not last long.
Quick arrest
The police, who had been alerted as soon as possible, managed to intercept the suspect near the supermarket. They found him in Forest Road, matching the description given by witnesses. He was a 50-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of burglary.
The swift action of the authorities was welcomed by local officials. Inspector Liz Gaskin, in charge of the area, expressed her satisfaction:
‘This was excellent work by the responding officers who ensured that a suspect was quickly handcuffed. The shop was closed at the time of the incident and therefore did not affect the public. However, the incident was alarming to staff and I would like to thank them for informing us of the burglary.’
The inspector stressed the importance of cooperation with local businesses in the fight against crime. She said that Nottinghamshire Police will always do its utmost to respond to incidents such as this in an efficient and timely manner. The staff at the shop were instrumental in foiling this daring robbery.
A setback for the thief
Although the thief managed to steal a substantial sum in scratch cards, he did not have time to enjoy his loot. The rapid arrest by the police put an end to his escapade. The suspect is now under investigation and may soon face charges of theft and burglary.