When he was caught by police, he was eating fish and chips whilst waiting for staff members to charge his phoneBristol watch burglar caught in distinctive neon T-shirt eating fish and chips, Kent Police unedited footage
A Bristol watch burglar was caught by police due to his distinctive neon T-shirt whilst eating fish and chips and waiting for staff to charge his phone behind the counter.
James Wall, 20, of Beverston Gardens, Lawrence Weston, stole Gucci and Cartier watches in a burglary at a home in Southborough, Tunbridge Wells.
He stole four watches, a diamond ring and a quantity of foreign currency during the incident, which happened at around 5.45pm on December 13.
Wall verbally abused a witness who challenged his reason for being in the area following the incident, and Kent Police were called.
He was driven away from the scene in a silver Vauxhall Insignia.
James Wall, 20.(Image: Kent Police)
Kent Police said that within an hour, patrols spotted the vehicle between junctions 3 and 2 of the M25, heading anticlockwise.
The car was seen to be driven dangerously, reaching speeds of almost 100mph along the hard shoulder, before it was brought to a stop near a slip road on the A2 near Wilmington, where the driver had attempted to travel the wrong way on the carriageway.
A 38-year-old man was arrested at the scene in connection with driving offences and has since been released pending further investigation.
A dog handler was deployed to locate Wall.
He was recognised by his neon-coloured T-shirt and arrested inside a chip shop near Bexley.
He was eating a portion of fish and chips while waiting for staff members to charge his phone behind the counter.
The device was seized and later examined, with digital forensic analysis placing Wall at the scene of the burglary.
Two jewellery boxes, two false vehicle registration plates and a jewellery cleaning cloth were found in the abandoned car by the Road Policing Unit.
Appearing at Maidstone Crown Court in January, Wall pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to two years in prison on Wednesday, March 25.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Celia King said: “Despite being confronted with a plethora of evidence proving he was responsible for the burglary, Wall initially refused to accept liability and laughed while watching footage from the pursuit.
“The judge took into consideration the high levels of planning involved in the burglary.
“As a result, Wall was handed an immediate custodial sentence.”