COPS found a 6ft car thief hiding inside a 5ft teddy bear.
Panicked Joshua Dobson, 18, had squeezed through a large hole cut in the cuddly toy’s bum when officers raided his girlfriend’s house.
But they spotted that the bear, tucked in a corner, appeared to be breathing.
Dobson, of Rochdale, was arrested for nicking an £8,500 Mitsubishi SUV — and has now been jailed for stealing vehicles, driving while disqualified and making off from a petrol station without paying.
Greater Manchester Police tweeted: “When we went to arrest him, our officers noticed a large bear breathing in the address before finding Dobson hidden inside!
“It appears he tore a hole in the teddy bear’s bum before climbing in to hide.
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“He’s now stuffed behind bars after being sentenced last week.
“Hopefully he has a bearable time inside . . .”
Manchester and Salford magistrates’ court banned Dobson from driving for 27 months and jailed him for nine months last week.
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He admitted stealing a Mitsubishi ASX SUV in May, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, and refusing to pay for fuel at a petrol station.
He further admitted stealing a Vauxhall Astra van in March, stealing a toolbox and two tablets, as well as criminal damage.
