The man was found inside the ground-floor premises at Bersted Green Court by two members of staff. Scheme manager Keith Allen and caretaker Alan Mitchell were checking on the Arun District Council-owned flat when they came across the alleged burglar.

An Arun spokeswoman said: "When the youth was found in the property, he tried to escape through the patio door. But he was chased by the manager, while the caretaker went out the front door to head him off. Once caught, he was detained until the police arrived."

The youth was handed over to the police officers. The council is helping the police with their investigation into the incident. CCTV footage from the cameras which surround the sheltered housing scheme in Durlston Drive is being examined.

The alleged break-in took place during the morning of August 13. Mr Allen found an elderly male resident during the course of his morning rounds. He realised the resident had fallen and immediately called an ambulance.

The resident had a broken leg and was taken to the ambulance, accompanied by Mr Allen, who shut the door of the flat as he left.

Once the ambulance had left, Mr Allen returned to the flat, accompanied by Mr Mitchell, to check it was safe and secure.

The spokeswoman stated: "Unless there is an emergency, such as a medical issue or flooding, the council has no right of entry to a tenant's property. It is also the council's policy that two members of staff must enter a property if it is known to be empty.

"On entering the flat, the two staff members found a youth in the property. It is thought the youth gained access to the flat through a window. The window in question is a small opener, where only a small section opens."

It is understood the resident remains in hospital where his condition is said to be 'comfortable'.



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