WET footprints led detectives to three burglars hiding in the loft of a Runcorn house.

Residents raised the alarm after hearing a loud banging noise coming from a property in Stonelea in Windmill Hill at 1am on Monday, July 27.

Police officers forced their way inside and followed a trail of wet footmarks.

PC Stuart Beswick from the Runcorn beat initiative team said today: “Three males were found hiding in the roof area.

“They were lying down in the roof eaves and had covered themselves with loft insulation to try and avoid being caught.”

The burglars had moved items of property from upstairs to the hallway ready to be stolen.

Jack Willcott, aged 24, of no fixed abode but from the Runcorn area, Christopher Beaumont, aged 24, of Bryn Dyffryn, Holway, North Wales, and Daniel Burgess, aged 20, of Meadowbank, Holway, North Wales, pleaded guilty to burglary at Halton Magistrates on Tuesday.

Wilcott also admitted being in possession of cocaine and was remanded in custody to appear at Warrington Crown Court. A date has yet to be fixed.

Beaumont and Burgess were bailed to be sentenced at Halton Magistrates Court on August 17.

PC Beswick added: “Burglary dwelling crimes are treated very seriously by Cheshire Constabulary due to the impact they have on victims.

“I would like to thank members of the public who reported this incident as it enabled police to respond quickly and arrest the males inside the address.

“I would urge other members of the public to report any further incidents of suspicious activity.”

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.