POLICE have arrested a man suspected of carrying out eight burglaries in Winterbourne, Hambrook and Yate, after finding him hiding under a bed.
The Avon & Somerset force released video footage (above – subtitles added by police) from an officer’s body-worn camera of the moment the man was coaxed out from under the double bed at a house in Coalpit Heath earlier this month, after officers arrived at the address with a warrant for his arrest.
The 43-year-old man is suspected of stealing garden machinery, power tools and bicycles from garages and garden sheds.
He has since been bailed pending further investigation.
Footage of the incident can be viewed here.
Week of action on community concerns
It happened during seven days of action between September 25 and October 7 carried out by South Gloucestershire’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, who worked with operational support units and roads policing officers to target areas of community concern.
A day of action targeting motorbike theft and crimes carried out using motorbikes in the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area, on September 25, led to the recovery of two stolen bikes and seizure of a van linked to motor vehicle theft.
Officers on a “proactive” road safety patrol arrested a drink-driver in Yate on October 2.
Other operations included crackdowns on shoplifting, exploitation of vulnerable people and “low-level drug dealing”.
Neighbourhood Inspector Dudley Bond said: “These days of targeted action have been an opportunity for us to use additional resources from across Avon and Somerset to achieve some great results for South Gloucestershire.
“We wanted to prioritise the areas of highest concern affecting our communities, including business crime and burglary, motorcycle theft and exploitation.
“If you have information related to any of these issues, we urge you to get in touch. In the meantime, our officers will continue to work hard every day to ensure South Gloucestershire remains a safe place for everyone.”
Police are urging anyone who needs to report a crime to visit their website, phone 101 or, in an emergency, 999.