A dramatic police pursuit through London came to a comical yet decisive end when a fleeing burglar found himself snagged on a garden fence, in a scene reminiscent of the film Hot Fuzz.
The Burglary and High-Speed Flight
Daika Simmons, aged 23, first broke into a home, where he stole the victim's car keys, two handbags, and made off in their Alfa Romeo. In a desperate bid to escape Metropolitan Police officers, Simmons then drove the stolen vehicle the wrong way down a dual carriageway.
The chase reached a critical point when police used tactical contact to ram the car, causing it to spin out of control and crash. Thermal footage from a police helicopter, later released by the Met, then captured Simmons attempting to flee on foot through residential gardens.
The Fence That Foiled a Fugitive
His escape was brutally cut short just a few slats from freedom. As he tried to clamber over a wooden garden fence, his jacket became firmly caught on the top. The aerial video shows the offender desperately yanking at his clothing, but to no avail.
In audio from the footage, officers can be heard stating, 'he's stuck on the fence at the moment', before moving in to apprehend him. The piece of clothing remained lodged on the fence as a clear marker of his failed attempt.
Justice Served
Simmons was subsequently found guilty of burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, and dangerous driving. He was sentenced at court to a total of four years and four months in prison for his crimes.
This incident, which occurred in December 2025, serves as a stark reminder that even the most chaotic criminal flight can be halted by the most ordinary of obstacles.
