A couple accidentally locked in a Jaguar dealership found they had access to 'cars, car keys, mobile phones, cameras and all of the equipment in the workshop'.
Charmaine and Darren Armour from Erbistock contacted The Chronicle about their adventure at Rybrook Jaguar in Sealand Road on Thursday, October 2, which sparked police to race to the scene when the alarm went off.
Charmaine, who found the eventful evening quite amusing, even sent a photo of herself behind reception with feet up on the desk while waiting to get out.
She explained: “On Thursday 2nd October my husband and I got locked in Rybrook Jaguar, Chester. We parked on their forecourt while we browsed some of the cars outside.
“When we returned to our car we found that the whole place was locked up and we had been locked on the premises! We searched around, hoping that a member of staff was available to let us get our car out. Long story short, it turned out that whoever locked us in had not secured the building.
“We found that the back door had been left open, so we went inside the building. This set the alarms off. We had access to everything – cars, car keys, mobile phones, cameras, all of the equipment in the workshop. Everything was unsecured!
“I looked in sales staff offices and found a phone book which I used to start contacting staff members. Eventually, the police turned up with the key holder, who let us out. We did help ourselves to hot chocolate and some of the receptionist’s biscuits while we waited. Photo shows me chilling while I wait to get out!”
Vicky Hewitt of Rybrook Jaguar said: “I can confirm there was an unauthorised entry to our Chester premises after we closed last Thursday.
“Both our key holder and the police attended the scene and investigations are ongoing. Obviously the ongoing security of our premises is of paramount importance to us and in the light of ongoing investigations no further comment would be appropriate.”
Sergeant Andy Burrage of Chester Police confirmed no criminal offences were committed.
He said: “At 7pm on 2nd October Police were called to reports of a possible burglary in progress at a car showroom on Sealand Road.
“On arrival police located two people within the premises, although it quickly became evident that they were customers who had apparently been locked into the premises. Police were satisfied that no criminal offences had been committed and the keyholder was able to allow the couple to leave.”
