WUSA9
Reprinted with Permission

LAUREL, Md. (WUSA) - A restaurant worker opening up the Jerry's Sub and Pizza in Laurel discovered the feet of a would-be burglar dangling from from a ventilation hood, sparking an unusual rescue Thursday morning.


"He was stuck in there, and apparently had been stuck for up to 8 hours. They had to cut away part of the ventilation system in order to free the individual. From what it appears, he entered through a roof hatch," said Mark Brady, spokesman for Prince George's County Fire and EMS.

The man was talking to rescuers and was expected to be charged by Laurel Police after medical treatment.

Rescuers believe the man was trying to break into the restaurant, located in the 9700 block of Fort Meade Road, through a ventilation port on the roof of the building.

Brady said the man "was able to slide his body down the very small, small opening. And again, this is the ventilation system for the cooking system, so it's quite greasy."

Workers say they recognize the would-be burglar as a homeless man who comes into the restaurant often.