This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A low-hanging television stopped an alleged criminal in his tracks when a burglar blundered into it.
Police allege the 39-year-old West Valley City resident decided to break into a Midvale Thai restaurant overnight on Jan. 26, according to charging documents filed Friday in 3rd District Court. However, unbeknownst to the alleged burglar, the store owner had decided to spend the night inside his restaurant because of several recent burglaries.
The owner told police he woke up to a loud crash and decided to flash the lights to his cafe. The burglar allegedly panicked and ran for the door. But on the way, he hit his forehead on a television that was mounted on the wall inside of the kitchen. The impact knocked him to the ground, but he quickly recovered, jumping to his feet and running away, charging documents show.
However, the burglar's girlfriend couldn't help but notice when her boyfriend came home that night with "a large injury to his forehead," charging documents show. When she questioned him, he told her he had broken into the restaurant, but someone was inside so he ran away, hitting his head on an object on the way out, charging documents show.
Police arrested the 39-year-old and he was charged with one count of burglary, a third-degree felony.
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