Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Chris Slater & Hannah Mackenzie Wood

Baffled cops find car thief hiding in teddy bear after noticing it 'breathing'

A teenager wanted for car theft has been jailed after he was found hiding inside a teddy bear by stunned cops.

Joshua Dobson, 18, became the subject of a police search after stealing a Mitsubishi ASX and not paying for petrol on the same day back in May. However, after attending his address, officers became baffled when they heard a stuffed toy in the house 'breathing'.

Upon examining the bear, they found the suspect "stuffed inside", Manchester Evening News reports. Dobson, from Rochdale, had cut a hole in the toy and somehow managed to fit himself inside the lining in a bizarre bid to dodge arrest.

He later detained and handed a nine month prison sentence during a court appearance last month, police stated. Sharing the extraordinary arrest on Facebook page, GMP Rochdale said: "A wanted car thief who tried using a teddy bear to hide from our neighbourhood cops out looking for him last month has been put behind bars for nine months.

"Joshua Dobson, 18, from the #Spotland area of the town, was sought by us after stealing a car in May and not paying for fuel that same day.

Officers found the teen after they noticed the teddy bear 'breathing'. (GMP)

"When we went to arrest him, our officers noticed a large bear breathing in the address before finding Dobson hidden inside!

"He's now stuffed behind bars after being sentenced last week for theft of a motor vehicle, driving while disqualified, and making off from a petrol station without payment."

GMP added on Twitter: "Our neighbourhood task force and divisional tasking team in #Rochdale could bearely believe what they stumbled across last month in search for a wanted man... We certainly had a more than bearable time bringing to justice one of the town's thieves last week!"

Court documents show Dobson, of Airhill Terrace, Rochdale, was sentenced to a total of 32 weeks in prison for a series of offences at Manchester Magistrates' Court last Friday, August 5.

They included theft of the Mitsubishi, valued at £8,500, and its keys, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance and making off from a petrol station without payment, on Saturday, May 21 this year.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

READ NEXT:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.