They almost got away with it – but instead two hapless burglars were caught red-handed, just moments after stealing £300 worth of razors from a shop thanks to eagle-eyed police officers.

Patrick Crerand, 51, and Steven Green, 49, were caught on council CCTV breaking into Savers in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, in the early hours of April 25.

Dramatic footage shows the brazen couple – both wearing hoods to hide their faces – apparently throwing a rock at the shop window and then using a hammer to further smash the glass, causing property damage.

Within seconds, one can be seen raiding the shelves while the other packs dozens of stolen Gilette razors, valued at £301.86, into a large bag.

As the men began their escape, a police car suddenly arrived at the scene – and Crerand and Green can be seen trying to escape.

Patrick Crerand, 51, and Steven Green, 49, were seen on city surveillance cameras approaching a Savers store in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on April 25

Then the two appear to smash the glass of the shop window with a stone and a hammer.

After damaging the window, the men are seen rummaging through the shelves and stealing Gilette razors.

After taking the stolen items in a large bag, the men run down the street to escape

But after being caught on video surveillance, police are sent to arrest the men, whereupon they flee.

The officers were able to quickly catch one of the burglars and pull him to the ground, while the other burglar was crouched behind discarded boxes in a dark alley littered with garbage.

Crerand and Green were arrested and later admitted to burglary charges outside their home.

Green also pleaded guilty to possession of heroin.

A photo shows the damage to the shop window after the men smashed the glass

The men managed to steal Gilette razors worth £300 from the store in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.

Police eventually caught the second suspect in a garbage-strewn alley

The officer ordered the man to sit on the ground and show his hands before he was arrested and charged with burglary of a non-residential building.

The men, both from Wisbech, appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court last Friday where they were sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

They were also ordered to pay Savers £200 compensation.

Inspector Michael Basford of Fenland’s Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) said: “Thanks to the quick action of CCTV operators and our response colleagues, Crerand and Green were caught red-handed and the stolen goods recovered.

“Combating crime against our businesses is a priority for Wisbech NPT as we know the significant impact it has in the area.”