Manchester, United Kingdom – A suspected burglar was arrested after attempting to hide under a bed to evade police following proactive patrols in Rusholme and Moss Side.

David Dale Thompson, born November 9, 1983, of no fixed address, was caught on January 15, 2025. He has now been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of residential burglary. He appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

In January 2025, neighbourhood officers and the district tasking team were patrolling Rusholme and Moss Side due to a high number of burglary reports. While on patrol just before 5 p.m., officers spotted Thompson acting suspiciously on a bicycle.

An officer followed him to a property on Boscombe Street and called for additional support. Upon entering the property, officers suspected something was wrong in one of the rooms. Lifting the bed revealed Thompson hiding in a storage compartment, attempting to evade capture.

Detective Inspector Natalie McDonald of GMP’s Manchester Central Neighbourhood Crime Team said: “This was a fantastic example of proactive policing, which has resulted in a serial offender now behind bars.

“We know how devastating a burglary in your own home can be and this shows our commitment to tackling them head on.”

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