May 03, 2009 12:00amA HAPLESS would-be burglar has been been charged after he became stuck on a Sydney factory roof and had to be rescued by police and fire crews in a three-hour operation.
Police were called to a three-storey factory in Leichhardt, in Sydney's inner-west, about 1.50am (AEST) on Sunday to find the 53-year-old on the roof.
Officers believe the man was trying to break into the joinery factory on Moore Street, but wet weather and the steep roof caused him to get stuck.
Numerous rescue attempts were made, with emergency crews eventually using a fire truck with a large ladder and a Polair helicopter to illuminate the rooftop to retrieve him at 4.50am.
He had numerous items on him, including a helmet with a light, bolt cutters, tin snips, a small ladder, backpack, tarpaulin, ropes and harnesses.
A Camperdown man has been charged with trespassing, possession of housebreaking implements, and attempted break-and-enter.
He has been refused bail and is expected to appear via video-link in Parramatta Local Court late on Sunday.
The moral of this story is that if you can't stand the height, do not climb on the roof. One thing is for sure, this guy will not try to escape from prison by scaling the roof tops of the jail house!
