Burglary suspect found in chimney breast (From The Advertiser Series)
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Darlington burglary suspect found hidden in chimney breast
11:34am Monday 22nd October 2012 in News By Alexa Copeland, Reporter (Darlington)
POLICE foiled a suspected burglar who hid himself in a chimney breast to escape arrest.
Acting on a tip-off, officers visited a house in Haughton Road, Darlington, last Monday lunchtime looking for a man wanted in connection with a recent burglary.
They made a thorough search of the house but found no trace of him.
Then one of the officers, who has undergone specialist search training, suggested removing a black metal cover from in front of the fireplace, even though it was no more than around two feet by 18 inches wide.
Having taken it off they found the suspect wedged into the tiny space in the chimney breast.
The 39-year-old, who is from the Haughton Road area, but not the house he was found in, was interviewed and released on police bail until November 12.
