It sounds like an episode from TV’s Tales Of The Unexpected.

Three burglars were in the middle of a raid at an empty property when police received a 999 call from inside the flat.

And as officers headed to the property in Margate colleagues listened for 22 minutes to the raiders carrying out the break-in.

Now a judge has heard that no-one knows who made the call as the homeowner was in hospital at the time and his carer was living elsewhere.

However, the call was traced to the property in St John’s Road and officers could hear the three burglars talking about the raid, saying: “Do you think we should go and load the car?”

And as police arrived to nab the trio two of the raiders jump over a 20ft wall to escape, leaving their pal loaded with stolen booty.

Prosecutor James Ross told Canterbury Crown Court that the truth behind the 999 call was ”inexplicable, unexplainable and baffling”.

One of the two thieves who scarpered over a 20ft wall broke his leg and needed hospital treatment.

But Mr Ross said that no charges had been brought against the other two, and he couldn’t explain that either.

He said the police officer at the scene could hear the third thief still inside the property and, after being coaxed, 42-year-old Stephen Chadwick gave himself up, saying: “Ok, ok I’m coming out.”

Mr Ross said Chadwick was caught carrying a syringe and needle, pink body lotion, a watch, two loveheart necklaces, a CD player, three MP3 players, a kitchen knife, phones, chargers and medicines.

He pleaded guilty to burglary and has now been jailed for a year.

The prosecutor said the owner, who suffers from cerebral palsy, had been in hospital and his carer living elsewhere.

Chadwick said he and two others had been squatting and had been forced to leave and decided to break into the flat.

His lawyer, David Howells, said: “It’s strange that police didn’t take any action against the others.”