Operation stupid: Bungling van thieves get more than they bargain for by stumbling into secret SAS drill

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Updated:


Enlarge   Surprise: Would-be van thieves came across four SAS officers on a surveillance operation

Surprise: Would-be van thieves came across four SAS officers on a surveillance operation

Opportunistic thugs attempting to steal a van got more than they bargained for when they prised open the doors and were faced with a team of heavily-armed SAS officers.

The four soldiers were taking part in late night military training on a council estate in Manchester when the bungling teenagers tried their luck.

The boys threw open the doors to find the men in full SAS gear with machine guns, pistols and live ammunition.

According to a source, one of the team was taking a break, another keeping log, one was on radio duty and the final soldier was watching a practice target in the counter-terrorism exercise.

A source told The Sun: 'They didn't want to move for fear of ruining the exercise and hope the gang would pass them by.

'The lads decided they would teach them a lesson if they did get into their van, which is exactly what happened.

'Those idiots probably still don't have any idea who they were messing with - but it hopefully made them think twice about doing that to anyone else again.'

Because of the interruption, the training operation was cancelled. Fortunately for the petty criminals, no official report was made to police to prevent the identities of the SAS members being revealed.

The Ministry of Defence offered no further details or comment.

Run for it: The teenage thugs in Manchester were chased by SAS officers

Run for it: The teenage thugs in Manchester were chased by SAS officers






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