Off-duty officers detain burglar with crowbar in Hackney
Two police constables returning from night shift apprehended a man armed with tools on Old Street.
Incident → evidence → outcomeA burglar armed with a crowbar was detained by two off-duty police officers on Old Street, Hackney, on Sunday, 13 September. Police Sergeant Jake Clarkson and Police Constable Shafi Chowdhury were returning home from a night shift in Camden when they witnessed the man forcing his way into a business premises.
The suspect, identified as Michael Lawrence, 43, had reportedly ripped the hinges off a door to gain entry. Despite not being in uniform and without protective equipment, the officers called 999 and waited for Lawrence to emerge from the building. They then wrestled him to the ground.
During the apprehension, the officers seized the crowbar Lawrence was carrying, along with a wrench and a hammer found in a bag. They held him for several minutes until uniformed colleagues arrived to make the arrest.
“When you see something like that unfolding, your training just kicks in, you don’t stop to think, you act.”
Lawrence, of Wentworth Street, Tower Hamlets, appeared at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on Monday. He pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and going equipped for burglary. Police stated he had attempted to steal a cash till before leaving the scene.
He was remanded on conditional bail. Sentencing is scheduled to take place at a later date.
Questions this report answers
01What happened on Old Street, Hackney?
Two off-duty police officers detained a burglar armed with a crowbar on Old Street, Hackney, on Sunday, 13 September. The man was found to be carrying burglary tools and has since pleaded guilty to the offences.
02Who are the police officers involved?
The officers are Police Sergeant Jake Clarkson and Police Constable Shafi Chowdhury. They were returning from a night shift in Camden when they encountered the burglar.
03What did the burglar plead guilty to?
Michael Lawrence, 43, pleaded guilty to burglary and going equipped for burglary at Stratford Magistrates’ Court. He was found with a crowbar, wrench, and hammer.
04What happens next for Michael Lawrence?
Michael Lawrence has been remanded on conditional bail. He will be sentenced at a later date, following his guilty plea at Stratford Magistrates’ Court.
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