Blundering 'shoplifters' were caught with a stolen TV – after strapping it to a car roof.

Police in Swale spotted the giant Toshiba android screen perched atop a black BMW on the A249 yesterday afternoon, after receiving a report a television had been stolen from a supermarket.

Officers pulled over the driver at the Stockbury roundabout near Sittingbourne, and two people were taken into custody.

A police spokesman said: "At 2.22pm on Thursday, January 20, Kent Police received a report that a television had been stolen from a supermarket in Bridge Road, Sheerness.

"The suspects then left the scene and, following a search of the area, officers stopped a vehicle on the A249, near Stockbury, at around 3pm.

"A 31-year-old from London and a 43-year-old man from Luton, Bedfordshire, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of theft and remain in custody as enquiries continue."

Tweeting about the incident, Kent Police Swale said: "Imagine stealing a TV from a shop and then getting spotted by patrols on the A249 with it on the roof."

They added that one occupant of the car was allegedly "wearing a jacket that they had stolen from the same shop".