Window Cleaner Sparks Bomb Scare By Leaving Bucket To Go For A Cuppa
When window cleaner Robin Baxter popped into a pub for a cuppa during his rounds, he didn’t think twice about leaving his cleaning bucket outside a nearby bookies.
But the 54-year-old was left red-faced after worried passers-by called police fearing the plastic bucket could be a bomb.
Officers rushed to the scene and coned off the area in Lichfield, Staffordshire - only to find it was full of soapy water.
Unaware - Mr Baxter had no idea of the dramatic scenes he’d caused
As the drama unfolded on Tuesday (July 12), Mr Baxter was across the road sipping a coffee in the Acorn Inn pub, blissfully unaware.
The window cleaner, whose company is ironically called Complete Panes, said: “I fancied a coffee and nipped in to the Acorn. I wasn’t going to be long so I left my bucket outside.
"I was in there for about 15 minutes and when I left a guy I know, who was in the bookies, told me what had happened. He said: ‘You’re in for a right rollicking from the police’.
"Apparently a police car on blue flashing lights had come down the street and parked up next to my bucket.
"They coned off the area while an officer tentatively checked it out. He was pretty relieved when he took the lid off and saw water and my cleaning utensils inside.
"I can’t believe my bucket caused a bomb scare. My mistake was to leave the lid on."
Ironic - Mr Baxter’s company is called ‘Complete Panes’
Mr Baxter, who lives in Lichfield, apologised for any inconvenience caused and said he is going to take more care in the future.
He added: "I have been asked by people if the Serious Grime Squad turned up.
"But I know the police have more important matters to deal with than checking out my bucket.”
Staffordshire Police confirmed officers attended after being alerted to the bucket by an eagle-eyed resident.
* It is not the first time that Mr Baxter has hit the headlines for his window cleaning escapades.
Two decades ago he had to be rescued by firefighters after getting stuck on the top of a four storey-high roof when his ladder fell over.
(Pictures: SWNS)
