Car Thief Found Hiding Inside Giant Teddy Bear

This Car Thief Was Caught Where You’d Least Expect

(NewsReady.com) – It’s not unusual for a suspected criminal to hide from the police. Law enforcement officers have pulled suspects out of bodies of water, attics, from under houses, and even ductwork. Officers in the United Kingdom might have just discovered a man they were hunting for in the weirdest place of all.

In July, Greater Manchester’s Rochdale Police officers went to a home looking for 18-year-old Joshua Dobson, who was wanted for car theft, not paying for fuel, and other driving offenses. While executing their search, law enforcement saw a large 5-foot teddy bear that appeared to be breathing. They inspected the children’s toy and discovered their suspect hiding inside.

Car thief hides in giant teddy bear, sentenced to jail. https://t.co/PqVVNeyDdM pic.twitter.com/KeQMzIhOto

— WAFB (@WAFB) August 12, 2022

Car theft in the UK is a frustratingly common occurrence for residents. In 2021, there were more than 25,000 vehicles were stolen in Greater Manchester. It impacted roughly 9 out of every 1,000 households and was 5% higher than in 2020. Although manufacturers have made it harder to steal vehicles, the methods thieves used have evolved.

The Greater Manchester Police noted that Joshua Dobson is now "stuffed behind bars" and hopes he finds the nine-month sentence "bearable." https://t.co/FTqLsnwUo7

— HuffPost (@HuffPost) August 12, 2022

In early August, Dobson went before a judge who sentenced him to nine months in an institution for young offenders. In a social media post, Rochdale Police said that he’s “now stuffed behind bars,” and they said they hope “he has a bearable time inside.”