This was the moment a man accused of theft broke out of a police cell when officers fell asleep.

Security camera footage showed the man pry open the window grills of his lockup in a police station and then wriggle out.

Before escaping, he had the presence of mind to collect his slippers which had been kept outside.

The incident occurred at a police station in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, India, on September 25.

The police had arrested a local man, Seva Kushwaha, 28, on September 21 on the charge of breaking into a mobile phone shop and stealing several expensive handsets.

A court had sent him to police custody and he was placed in a lockup at Jaura station.

The Superintendent of Police Amit Sanghi has suspended the three policemen and announced a reward of Rs. 5000 for information about the whereabouts of the accused.

This was the moment an accused thief dramatically fled from police custody as three constables went to sleep.

The man pried open window grills of his lockup in a police station and then wriggled out.

Before escaping, he had the presence of mind to collect his slippers which had been kept outside.

The incident occurred at a police station in Morena district of Madhya Pradesh, India, on September 25.

The police had arrested a local man, Seva Kushwaha, 28, on September 21 on the charge of breaking into a mobile shop and stealing several expensive handsets.

A court had sent him to police custody and he was placed in a lockup at Jaura station.

A CCTV camera at the station caught him making the stunning escape as three constables, who were on guard, went to sleep locking the door.

The Superintendent of Police Amit Sanghi has suspended the three policemen and announced a reward of Rs. 5000 for information about the accused, who has gone missing.