A snow success story

Police in Lyme Regis arrested an alleged burglar overnight on 5 March 2009, after following his footsteps in the fresh snow.

Following a series of burglary attempts in the local area, Dorset Police received a call at 4.15am about a male intruder who had allegedly entered a house in Lyme Regis.    Already aware of a possible suspect, officers visited the suspect’s home address and followed a set of undisturbed footprints that led to the house that had been broken in to. From there, they followed further ‘snowprints’ to a second house where they disturbed the offender.   

A short chase took place and the offender, who is already wanted by the police for other offences, was arrested a short time later.

A 25 year old Lyme Regis man was arrested in possession of property suspected to be from one of the burglaries, and is currently assisting Weymouth CID with their enquiries. 

Inspector Alan Jenkins, Section Commander for Bridport and Lyme Regis, said: "These type of snow-track arrests happen very rarely in an officer’s career.

“We were very fortunate that the snow had, literally, just fallen and this contributed to a successful arrest and some solace for the terrified occupants of the two houses."