A cat burglar has been arrested for break-and-enter after calling 9-1-1 following a botched rooftop break-in.

The 51-year-old man was attempting to break into a home through a skylight in the area of Matthews Avenue and Cypress Street around 1 a.m. on August 14th, when he slid down the roof and got stuck. Unable to descend the 25 feet to the ground below, the thief called 9-1-1 and asked for help. Police arrived and requested the assistance of the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service to get the crook off the roof.

The criminal, with a history of break-ins, was taken into custody without incident to face charges for break-and-enter.

“Even a skylight can be an attractive invitation to an agile cat burglar,” says VPD Staff Sergeant Randy Fincham. “This cat wisely chose to save one of his nine lives and called 9-1-1 for help.”