AN opportunist thief slipped up when they stole 27 new slippers from a Suffolk shoe shop.The culprit hot-footed it unaware they were all right-footed.

AN opportunist thief slipped up when they stole 27 new slippers from a Suffolk shoe shop.

The culprit hot-footed it unaware they were all right-footed.

Investigating officer Pc Archie Seager said: "This is a very unusual type of crime but we are obviously hunting a well-heeled, one-legged thief.

"Obviously this thief made one big mistake. He grabbed a basket full of slippers thinking they were pairs, when in fact they were just on show and were all right-sided.

"I have no idea what the thief might do with them now because there obviously not much good to anyone.

The theft happened when staff at Shoe Zone in North Street, Sudbury, put out around half-a-dozen baskets of shoes on display outside.

In line with company policy, staff only filled the basket with right-sided slippers, leaving their left-sided counterparts safely locked away in the store.

Store manager Hayley Chatters said: "Nothing like this has ever happened before and we were all gobsmacked, it has caused quite a laugh around the office.

"The slippers were all different colours and sizes, but the thief must have got the shock of their life when they realised what they had taken.

"People do often think the slippers in the basket are pairs and try to buy them, but nobody has ever stolen them before.

"We haven't got a clue who did this, which is surprising because the basket which was stolen is quite large and not something you could just stick under your coat. You would have thought somebody must have seen what was happening.

"We are left with 27 useless slippers, which will now be discarded and written-off."

Anyone with any information about the theft, which happened last Saturday afternoon, is asked to call Suffolk police on 01473 613500.