This is the hilarious moment bungling thieves fled empty-handed when a shop manager hauled two stolen sofas out of their getaway van – after the raiders forgot to close the doors.
Dramatic CCTV footage from a furniture showroom shows a pair of men brazenly loading two brown £400 settees into a white transit in broad daylight.
Seconds before the intruders sped off brave store manager Justin Hallett, 37, leapt through the open backdoors and snatched the sofas back.
The 60-second clip shows two of the daring three-man gang jump out of a white van with its number plate hidden from view.
One man strides into the store while his accomplice opens the doors on the back of the van before following him.
Seconds later, both men reappear carrying a large brown leather sofa which they bundle into the vehicle.
They then re-enter the shop and return to the van carrying a second three-seater which they shove into the van before attempting to escape.
The dramatic raid unfolded at the Sofa King furniture superstore near Northampton at 11.45am on Saturday.
Store owner Mark Kypta, 42, said the footage he captured was like “something out of a Benny Hill film”.
He said: “We couldn’t believe their audacity of just coming round the back of the store at our busiest time and brazenly loading the van with our sofas.
“Our prices aren’t exactly high, so they must have been pretty desperate. Luckily Justin, not even thinking of his own safety, ran out and jumped into the back of the van and got the sofas back.
“I think he’s in line for a Christmas bonus now. He was pretty brave. The whole footage looks like it should have a Benny Hill soundtrack to it. It’s a bit bizarre.
“But on a serious note, we want these guys caught because we don’t want other businesses to be targeted.
“The barefaced cheek of these guys was just crazy – and it could have easily got a bit nasty.
“Luckily nobody was hurt and we kept our stock, but it could have quite easily have been a different story altogether.”
Police confirmed that they were investigating the incident at the Sofa King showroom.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesperson said: “The incident occurred on September 29 at around 11.45 am on the Towcester Road, Northampton.
“Police were called to reports that two men attended the property and attempted to steal two sofas.
“They were prevented from doing so and drove off. The incident is currently being investigated by officers.”
