Two men have pleaded guilty to burgling a Camden restaurant after being caught attempting to steal empty tills. The suspects were arrested outside the venue as they tried, and failed, to open cash registers that were completely devoid of money.

The incident occurred on Saturday, 25 January 2025, when police responded to an alert from Camden Borough CCTV operators regarding a break-in at a restaurant on Camden High Street. At around 6:00am, officers arrived at the scene and quickly arrested the suspects, Paul Haughey, 40, of Camden Road, NW1, and Jayvan Burton, 41, of no fixed address but from the Camden area.

Detective Constable Michelle Andersen, who led the investigation from the Islington CID, commented on the swift response by officers: “Officers were very quick to get to the scene of the burglary, and were able to arrest both suspects before they could make off. CCTV footage shows them trying and failing to open the drawers of the cash registers. But even if they had managed to open them, they would have found the tills completely empty.

Both men were charged with non-residential burglary for attempting to steal the empty tills. At Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 27 January, Haughey and Burton both pleaded guilty to the charges.

Haughey will be sentenced at the same court on 18 February 2025. A date for Burton’s sentencing is yet to be arranged, and it will take place at Wood Green Crown Court.

The case highlights the importance of prompt police action and CCTV surveillance in ensuring criminals are caught before they can carry out their plans.

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