Two "prolific" crooks who went on a two day burglary spree were caught after leaving a safe and cash till drawers inside the car police were chasing.
Lee Brown and Kurtis Nelson, both from Liverpool, crossed the county border and ventured into Lancashire and Greater Manchester to commit their crimes.
The first incident happened at a Costa coffee shop in Ormskirk, at 10pm on January 5, when three men stole more than £460 from the safe and escaping in a white Audi, the vehicle itself stolen from Wigan, a month earlier.
Hours later, the same gang broke into the Post House Bar in Orrell, Greater Manchester, smashing a glass window and stealing £200 from a safe and till.
Brown, Nelson, and an unknown third accomplice, returned to Ormskirk, and at 5.20am on January 6, they forced their way into Spit Roast restaurant, setting off an alarm at the adjoining The Buck I'Th' Vine pub.
Police arrived with the officer, who attempted to arrest two of the men, but he was hit on the leg with a crowbar by Nelson.
One yob ran off while Nelson quickly got into the Audi driven by Brown.
The car was chased and then traced to an address eight miles away in Kirkby.
Brown, from Clubmoor, and Nelson, from Huyton, were arrested, with the pinched safe and cash tills still inside the vehicle.
They were jailed for 50 months and 38 months respectively, on Monday, at Preston Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Steve Monk, of Lancashire Police, said: “Brown and Nelson are brazen and prolific offenders who went on a relentless crime spree targeting a number of addresses, including Ormskirk.
“Thanks to the quick actions of officers, the trio were found caught in the act.
"Unfortunately one of the offenders made off from the scene, but Nelson and Brown were pursued and later arrested in the Liverpool area.
“This was a great cross-border response with excellent work by all involved.
“The officer attacked by Nelson thankfully suffered minor injuries and soon returned to work.”
Nelson, of Kemsley Road, and Brown were both charged with three burglary offences and an offence of handling stolen goods.
Brown, of Muirhead Avenue, was also charged with driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and failing to stop.
Nelson was given a further charge for assault with intent to resist arrest.
Both pleaded guilty to those offences last month.
