Burglar fell through workshop roof as couple made PPE for NHS

Bizarre moment bungling burglar almost falls through workshop roof sending debris crashing down onto couple making facemasks for NHS workers

  • James McConville and girlfriend were working late when the roof began to fall in 
  • Debris just missed Mr McConville partner’s head and she was left badly shaken
  • Mr McConville has used a 3D printer to make hundreds of free PPE masks 
  • CCTV captured the burglar running from the scene seconds after the incident 

A burglar who tried to break into a workshop nearly fell on top of a couple who were working around-the-clock to provide NHS workers with Personal Protective Equipment.

James McConville and his girlfriend were working late in the workshop in Aintree, when the roof began to fall in.

Mr McConville, who was in the kitchen at the time making drinks, ran into the workshop and saw a hooded man staring down at him through the hole.

James McConville (pictured) and his girlfriend were working late in the workshop in Aintree,  making free PPE masks for NHS hospitals, when the roof began to fall in

The debris just missed his partner’s head and the incident left her badly shaken. CCTV footage captured the extraordinary moment, and showed James consoling his girlfriend who was visibly upset after the drama, which could have left them both seriously injured.

CCTV footage also captured a man running from the scene seconds after the incident at around 10.12pm on May 9.

Mr McConville, who has used a 3D printer to make hundreds of PPE masks for front line workers during the coronavirus crisis, was annoyed that the incident interrupted his efforts to provide workers with free face masks.

CCTV footage captured the extraordinary moment when the burglar almost fell through the roof in the workshop where James McConville and his girlfriend were making PPE masks using a 3D printer

CCTV footage captured the extraordinary moment when the burglar almost fell through the roof in the workshop where James McConville and his girlfriend were making PPE masks using a 3D printer

CCTV footage also captured a man running from the scene seconds after the incident at around 10.12pm on May 9

CCTV footage also captured a man running from the scene seconds after the incident at around 10.12pm on May 9

He told the Liverpool Echo: ‘It’s hard to keep faith when things like this happen, especially when you’ve spent every waking hour of the past six weeks and thousands of pounds of your own money to provide PPE to our NHS and essential workers then something like this happens and crushes your spirits. Some karma right.’

He said that production had to stop while he repaired the damage and made the building safe.

He added: ‘I looked up and saw a hooded person leaning over the hole, he looked me dead in the eye before running off over the roof scared.

‘I didn’t know how many of them there were at the time so I didn’t want to open the shutters and give chase.

‘Luckily, I was in the workshop at the time to scare him off and no one was hurt, Kathryn was using my laptop and pieces of the roof fell onto it just barely missing her head.

Mr McConville said that production had to stop while he repaired the damage and made the building safe

Mr McConville said that production had to stop while he repaired the damage and made the building safe

‘It could have been a lot worse, but thankfully no one was hurt and nothing was taken.

‘I’m just angry that it happened in front of Kathryn as it obviously shocked and terrified her.’

James started making the masks on March 28 to help provide NHS staff and other frontline workers with the PPE they needed.

His first post on Facebook received thousands of shares he was soon inundated with messages from workers in need of masks.

The debris just missed his partner's head and the incident left her badly shaken

The debris just missed his partner’s head and the incident left her badly shaken

James has since used a collection of printers to make hundreds of masks.

He has spent thousands of pounds of his own money on the venture, which has supplied staff at the region’s biggest hospitals with PPE.

Anyone with information about the attempted break-in at the workshop should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.