KFC robbery gang jailed after being arrested on restaurant roof

The burglars fled to the roof when police arrived at the scene in Liverpool

The three men had planned to raid the safe in the fast food restaurant (Getty)

A gang of robbers were jailed after they were arrested on the roof of a KFC restaurant they had attempted to raid.

The burglars had planned to open the safe of the fast food restaurant on East Prescot Road, Liverpool, but failed to bring the appropriate tools for the job, the Liverpool Echo reported.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that CCTV footage showed David McCaig, 27, Thomas Fleetwood, 24 and Matthew Mallon, 23, wandering around after smashing the drive-thru window and climbing inside.

Prosecutor Robert Jones said the KFC area manager got a call from security staff at 2am on 25 March saying they had spotted the intruders.

Police were called and arrived to see a man dressed in black lying on the floor. When he spotted the officers he got up and quickly ran back inside the restaurant.

The police then went to the rear exit to block the intruders’ escape and saw a hooded man dive back into the building.

Mr Jones, said: “All three males climbed up a ladder and were on the roof. They were asked to come down several times by police but didn’t do so immediately but when officers climbed up on the roof they gave themselves up.”

He said the safe would have contained between £12,000 and £14,000 but it was on a time lock meaning that even staff couldn’t open it.

The robbers had muffled the alarm and smashed a number of CCTV cameras but they missed the one which captured their movements.

All three men admitted a single count of burglary.

McCaig, of Cotsford Place, Huyton, had 42 previous convictions including handling stolen goods, aggravated vehicle taking and possession of a blade. He said he carried out the burglary to provide for his two children.

Fleetwood, of Gloucester Road, Huyton, had convictions for assault, criminal damage and attempted burglary and Mallon also had a conviction for assault.

Michael Scholes, defending Fleetwood, said his client was “not the deepest thinker”.

He said: “It’s planned but it’s not terribly sophisticated. They’re not equipped with a great deal of equipment to crack a safe. I’ve no idea what their intention was but clearly it was doomed to fail.”

Judge David Aubrey, QC, jailed McCaig for 16 months and Fleetwood for 14 months.

Mallon was given a 12 month sentence, suspended for two years with a four-month electronically-monitored curfew between 8pm and 6am.

The judge said: “Fortunately in consequence of the expeditious arrival by the police you did not achieve your aim.”