Gotcha! Bungling burglar is caught red-handed by police cowering behind a counter in a restaurant he was targeting amid crime spree

This is the moment when a clumsy burglar on a crime spree was caught red-handed by police as he cowered behind a restaurant counter.

Stephen Clark, 49, broke into two city center restaurants in Sevenoaks within half an hour but was quickly tracked down by officers.

CCTV footage shows Clark smashing the glass of the door of Budare, a Venezuelan restaurant in the town of Kent, and forcing his way inside.

Bodycam footage of an arriving Kent police officer shows him announcing in the darkened restaurant: “If there is anyone in this building, please come forward and identify yourself.”

But the cop gets no answer and only discovers Clark is hiding behind the counter when he shines his torch on the cowering criminal.

Stephen Clark, 49, broke into two city center restaurants in Sevenoaks within half an hour

Bodycam footage from an arriving Kent police officer shows the moment Clark is discovered hiding behind the restaurant counter

The repeat offender was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the burglary

Clark targeted the Venezuelan restaurant Budare (down the street) in The Shambles on May 31, 2024 between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM.

The officer says “hello sir” when he discovers Clark, before going ahead and arresting him for burglary, which Clark initially seems to meekly accept.

But when the cop and Clark leave the restaurant, Clark tries to run from the cop and his partner, but they react quickly and knock him to the ground.

Clark targeted another restaurant in Dorset Street and Budare in The Shambles between 10:30pm and 11pm on May 31, 2024.

He forced open the doors of both locations, damaging glass panels, frames and locks.

Clark was later charged with two counts of burglary and taken into custody.

Just three days later, on June 3, he attended a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court where he was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

He was filmed pushing open the door, damaging glass panels, frames and locks

CCTV footage shows Clark smashing the glass of the door of Budare, a Venezuelan restaurant in the town of Kent, and forcing his way inside.

Police Sergeant James Page, of the West Division Victim Based Crime Team, said: ‘Clark caused significant damage to both properties and stole cash from local business owners, causing a nuisance and putting them under unnecessary financial pressure.

“I am grateful to the officers who responded quickly to the initial emergency call and quickly arrested Clark.

“It is thanks to their teamwork that Clark, a repeat offender, was able to avoid arrest.”