A suspected burglar’s attempt to sneak into a California business took a spectacularly festive turn when he became trapped inside a chimney and was forced to call 911 for help.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Rather than making the quiet entrance he had apparently hoped for, 32-year-old Jesse Berube ended up requiring emergency services to get him back out, per Fox News.
The bizarre incident unfolded in Citrus Heights, a city in the Sacramento area of Northern California.
According to police, Berube attempted to gain access to Loree’s Little Shack, a bar on Greenback Lane, by sliding down its chimney.
It was a plan that quickly ran into a fairly significant problem.
Berube became lodged inside the narrow space and found himself unable to escape. Thankfully for him, he was still able to move enough to reach his mobile phone and call 911.
Police said he had managed to wiggle “just enough” to make the call for assistance.
First responders arrived at the business and discovered Berube trapped inside the chimney. Firefighters then had to use “special equipment” to extricate him, per CBS News.
Despite his unusual predicament, Berube emerged from the incident without injury.
His freedom did not last particularly long, however.
Once safely removed from the chimney, Berube was arrested and faced one count of burglary. His mugshot also appeared to show his nose covered in soot following his attempted entry.
The circumstances inevitably drew comparisons with a certain Christmas visitor famous for making his way into buildings through chimneys.
Citrus Heights Police Department dubbed Berube a “criminal Santa” following the incident, although officers were quick to point out one important difference between the suspect and the man in the red suit.
“Criminal Santa does not have the same skills as the real deal,” the police department tweeted.
There was another twist to the attempted burglary, too.
Berube was reportedly already a regular customer at Loree’s Little Shack.
Business owner Loree Lamoureaux said there was up to $400 worth of employee tips inside the bar at the time.
She also saw the funny side of the unusual method allegedly chosen to get into her business.
“There’s lots of room for Santa, but it’s got to be the right Santa,” she said, “and not the criminal Santa.”
Berube could not immediately be reached for comment following the incident, while it was unclear whether he had a lawyer.
Ultimately, an alleged attempt to enter a business through its chimney ended with the suspect making the very call that brought authorities directly to him.
Santa might make the chimney route look straightforward every December, but this particular attempt proved it is probably best left to the professionals.
Featured image credit: Citrus Heights Police Department
