- Stephen Clark, 49, broke into two restaurants in Sevenoaks on May 31, 2024.
- The repeat offender has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for the robbery
This is the moment police caught a bumbling thief red-handed on a crime spree while hiding behind a restaurant counter.
Stephen Clark, 49, had broken into two Sevenoaks town center restaurants in the space of half an hour but was quickly tracked down by officers.
On CCTV, Clark can be seen breaking the glass on the door of Budare, a Venezuelan restaurant in the town of Kent, and forcing his way inside.
Body camera footage of an arriving Kent police officer shows him announcing in the dark restaurant: “If there is anyone in this building, please come forward and make yourself known.”
But the officer receives no response and only discovers Clark hiding behind the counter when he shines his flashlight at the cowering criminal.
Stephen Clark, 49, broke into two restaurants in Sevenoaks town center within half an hour.
Body camera footage from an arriving Kent Police officer shows the moment they discover Clark hiding behind the restaurant counter.
The repeat offender was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the robbery
Clark targeted the Venezuelan restaurant Budare (located at the end of the street) in The Shambles, between 10:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. on May 31, 2024.
The officer says “hello sir” when he discovers Clark, before going ahead and arresting him for robbery, which Clark at first appears to meekly accept.
But when the officer and Clark leave the restaurant, Clark tries to run away from the officer and his partner, but they react quickly and tackle him to the ground.
Clark targeted another restaurant on Dorset Street and Budare in The Shambles, between 10.30pm and 11pm on 31 May 2024.
He forced open the doors of both locations, damaging glass panels, frames and locks in the process.
Clark was subsequently charged with two counts of robbery and remained in custody.
He attended a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court just three days later on June 3, where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
He was filmed forcing the door open, damaging glass panels, frames and locks in the process.
On CCTV, Clark can be seen breaking the glass on the door of Budare, a Venezuelan restaurant in the town of Kent, and forcing his way inside.
Police Sergeant James Page, of Western Division’s victim-based crime team, said: ‘Clark caused considerable damage to both premises and stole cash from local business owners, causing them inconvenience and placing them under strain. improper financial
‘I am grateful to the officers who responded quickly to the initial emergency call and arrested Clark quickly.
“It is because of their teamwork that Clark, a repeat offender, did not avoid arrest.”