A suspected burglar suffered potentially life-changing injuries after plunging 20ft from the roof of a house while apparently trying escape police on a leafy north London street.
Officers were called to reports of a break-in at the property on Milman Road, Queen’s Park at about 3.32am on Wednesday.
Neighbours describe hearing “screams of pain” after one of three men attempting to scale scaffolding at a family home under renovation lost his balance. Two other raiders are believed to have escaped over a fence.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a male, in his 30s, found on the ground at the rear of the property, is “believed to have fallen from the building”.
He was taken to a north London major trauma centre by London Ambulance Service. His condition is not life-threatening, but may yet be life changing.
A 31-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of burglary and remains in hospital.
Terraced houses on Milman Road - yards from popular Queen’s Park and the nearby Tube station - sell for £2.5million to £4.3m.
A father-of-two, 56, who lives on the street, told the Standard: “We could hear howls of pain from a man who was laying on the ground.
“He had fallen from the roof area trying to get away. One of the neighbours called the police after hearing banging at a house which is being renovated. There have been multiple break-ins there with thieves trying to steal tools.
“Police were talking to the man telling him to keep still.
“I’ve heard he has a serious spinal injury and may not walk again.
“We are all really shaken up. My son heard the screams it was awful.
“After the burglar fell, loads of police arrived and now they are investigating the events leading up to the man falling.”
On Wednesday afternoon, detectives were on the scene carrying out door-to-door inquiries and collecting CCTV video footage.
Another neighbour said: “House burglaries are rare here.
“We all look out for each other and are in a neighbourhood WhatsApp group. But the house where he fell is a building site and I was told it had been broken into six times.
“We think it’s probably people wanting to steal tools but I think the firm doing the work lock them away in any case.”
A police cordon remains in place around the house.
Scotland Yard said: “Police were called at 03.32am on Wednesday, September 11 to reports of a burglary taking place at a building site on Milman Road, NW6.
“Police attended. As officers arrived, shouts were heard and a man, aged 30s, was found on the floor at the rear of the property, believed to have fallen from the building.
“He was taken to a north London hospital by London Ambulance Service where his condition is not life-threatening, but may yet be life changing. We await further updates.
“A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of burglary. He remains in hospital at this time.
“Due to a police presence at the scene the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been notified.”
London Ambulance Service added: “We were called at 3.44am today (September 11) to reports of a person fallen from height on Milman Road, NW6.
“We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew and a paramedic in a fast response car.
“We treated a patient and took them to a major trauma centre as a priority.”
