Burglar pours himself a pint mid-burglary as detectives launch probe

He then fled Sparrow Park in Leek before dumping the till in a recycling bin.

Staffordshire Police is now appealing for witnesses.

The incident at the cocktail bar is believed to have occurred around 11.30pm on October 10, reports the Stoke Sentinel.

A post on the Smithfield Centre's Facebook page said: "A quick warning to local businesses, our neighbours and nearby residents.

"Someone entered our premises to steal one of our cash registers along with some stock, even pouring themselves a pint in the process!

"Our cash register was later found dumped on Livingstone Street around midnight, with the contents missing.

"Times are already hard enough for independent businesses in Leek without things like this happening."

A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Police said: "We are appealing for witnesses following a burglary at a business in Leek.

"An unknown man stole a till from the Sparrow Park bar at The Smithfield Centre on Ashbourne Road.

"It is not known how much money was in the till, which was later recovered in a recycling bin."

Those with information are urged to contact 101 and quote incident 331 of October 11.