Thief steals pizza parlour dough
The thief appeared to be building a pepperoni pizza
A burglar who raided a California pizza parlour in the dead of night was forced to leave a hand-made pepperoni feast in the oven as he fled with his loot.
The thief, who did make off with cash from the restaurant's safe, was caught on CCTV choosing an apron and creating a large pizza with all the trimmings.
Police in San Clemente, California, hope the footage will help catch him.
Officers suspect the man was disturbed by a restaurant employee, who found the safe empty - and the pizza burning.
The hungry thief entered Sonny's Pizza and Pasta, which describes itself as the "local hot spot" in the coastal town of San Clemente, at about 0200 local time.
Video footage showed the man trying on a series of bakers' aprons before finding one to suit his shape and style.
Suitably attired, the intruder methodically began building a large pepperoni pizza.
Mystery toppings
Not expecting a bill for his late-night snack, he made sure to add liberal helpings of a range of pizza toppings, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.
According to a menu listed on Sonny's website, a large pepperoni pizza - known to diners as "Sonny's Roman Orgy" - would have cost the thief $15.95 (£9.00).
If ordering from the menu, he would have enjoyed onions, green peppers, black olives, mushrooms, salami, and sausage alongside his pepperoni. Anchovies are available on request.
At the time of the robbery, though, he could have chosen from any number of Sonny's "gourmet toppings", including artichoke hearts, gorgonzola cheese and sun-dried tomato.
But he was forced to make a quick getaway when a restaurant employee arrived for work at about 0300.
The restaurant's safe was missing with an undisclosed amount of cash, while the pizza was smouldering in the oven.
The thief appeared to be building a pepperoni pizza
A burglar who raided a California pizza parlour in the dead of night was forced to leave a hand-made pepperoni feast in the oven as he fled with his loot.
The thief, who did make off with cash from the restaurant's safe, was caught on CCTV choosing an apron and creating a large pizza with all the trimmings.
Police in San Clemente, California, hope the footage will help catch him.
Officers suspect the man was disturbed by a restaurant employee, who found the safe empty - and the pizza burning.
The hungry thief entered Sonny's Pizza and Pasta, which describes itself as the "local hot spot" in the coastal town of San Clemente, at about 0200 local time.
Video footage showed the man trying on a series of bakers' aprons before finding one to suit his shape and style.
Suitably attired, the intruder methodically began building a large pepperoni pizza.
Mystery toppings
Not expecting a bill for his late-night snack, he made sure to add liberal helpings of a range of pizza toppings, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.
According to a menu listed on Sonny's website, a large pepperoni pizza - known to diners as "Sonny's Roman Orgy" - would have cost the thief $15.95 (£9.00).
If ordering from the menu, he would have enjoyed onions, green peppers, black olives, mushrooms, salami, and sausage alongside his pepperoni. Anchovies are available on request.
At the time of the robbery, though, he could have chosen from any number of Sonny's "gourmet toppings", including artichoke hearts, gorgonzola cheese and sun-dried tomato.
But he was forced to make a quick getaway when a restaurant employee arrived for work at about 0300.
The restaurant's safe was missing with an undisclosed amount of cash, while the pizza was smouldering in the oven.
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