'Over a dozen' police descend on Kentish Town street in stand-off with 'wanted man'

Police incident: Up to 15 police officers were seen in Kentish Town tonight.
Ryan Nelson
Francesca Gillett15 September 2016

A man allegedly wanted for theft was in a stand-off with police after climbing onto the roof of a house in north London.

“Over a dozen” police officers descended on the house in Kentish Town and a helicopter was sent out in the search for the suspect, who is in his mid-twenties.

The man had reportedly been at the property and tried to escape from police by scaling the roof – but after a stand-off with officers he came down and was arrested for theft, Metropolitan Police confirmed.

Witnesses reported seeing around 15 officers and three vans at Leverton Street after the initial call was made to the Met at around 7pm on Wednesday.

Police cordoned off the road and the suspect came down from the roof at 8pm, police said.

Ryan Nelson, who witnessed the whole incident from his house, said the police officers were seen near to the Pineapple pub.

He said: “It started with a police van and officers moving up and down the street, trying to get into one of the flat gardens.

Police presence: Vans and officers near to the Pineapple pub on Leverton Street, Kentish Town.
Ryan Nelson.

“And then maybe 20 minutes later there were three police vans and a police helicopter overhead and I would say maybe 12 to 15 police officers in the street at one point standing around a house at the end of the street. It sounds a lot but it really was that many.”

He added: “A couple of them seemed to be going in and out of the house and talking to a woman and a man but no idea if they lived in the house or not.”

Other residents living in the nearby Tufnell Park area said on social media they could hear a police helicopter overhead.

Alex Prouf said on Twitter: "Two vans of police officers, officers dotted around street, looked like they were searching for someone."

A police spokesman said: “At approximately 7pm, officers from Camden making enquiries into the whereabouts of suspect for wanted for theft attended a property at Leverton Street, NW5.

“The suspect, in his mid-20s, was at the property and tried to escape from police by scaling the roof.

“Officers cordoned off the road and the National Police Air Support helicopter also was called to the scene.

“The suspect came from down roof at 20:00hrs and was arrested for theft.

“He is currently in custody at a north London police station.”

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