
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Jeffrey Manchester, known as “The Roofman,” wasn’t your typical criminal. A former Army Reservist, he used military precision to rob nearly forty fast-food restaurants across nine states, always polite and disciplined. But his boldest move came after his arrest.
Serving a forty-five-year sentence, Manchester escaped prison by hiding under a delivery truck. For months, he vanished. Then police uncovered the unbelievable truth: he had been secretly living inside the ceiling of a North Carolina Toys “R” Us.
Manchester raided snacks, played video games, and even watched the store’s security cameras from his secret hideout. By day, he lived a normal life under a new identity. By night, he ruled the roof.
His story ended in a dramatic sting operation when he tried to rob the very store he had called home. Hidden bedding, stolen supplies, and a copy of Catch Me If You Can told investigators everything they needed to know.
Follow True Crime Recaps for more unbelievable real-life stories that sound too wild to be fiction.
By Amy Townsend, Chris Nathan4.7
294294 ratings
Jeffrey Manchester, known as “The Roofman,” wasn’t your typical criminal. A former Army Reservist, he used military precision to rob nearly forty fast-food restaurants across nine states, always polite and disciplined. But his boldest move came after his arrest.
Serving a forty-five-year sentence, Manchester escaped prison by hiding under a delivery truck. For months, he vanished. Then police uncovered the unbelievable truth: he had been secretly living inside the ceiling of a North Carolina Toys “R” Us.
Manchester raided snacks, played video games, and even watched the store’s security cameras from his secret hideout. By day, he lived a normal life under a new identity. By night, he ruled the roof.
His story ended in a dramatic sting operation when he tried to rob the very store he had called home. Hidden bedding, stolen supplies, and a copy of Catch Me If You Can told investigators everything they needed to know.
Follow True Crime Recaps for more unbelievable real-life stories that sound too wild to be fiction.

3,972 Listeners

5,154 Listeners

29,223 Listeners

8,664 Listeners

3,441 Listeners

368,709 Listeners

1,279 Listeners

3,192 Listeners

47,767 Listeners

5,918 Listeners

17,835 Listeners

10,004 Listeners

20,053 Listeners

375 Listeners

5,982 Listeners