Teen car thief is caught after jamming his arm in the door and calling for help

Daily Mail

Last updated at 5:38 PM on 14th August 2009

A suspected teenage car thief was caught red-handed after he attempted to prise open the car door but trapped his arm and had to scream for help.

The 17-year-old managed to wedge his arm so tightly that he was unable to escape.

He had been attempting to steal a Vauxhall Cavalier but after bending back the door to slip his arm through, he slipped, pushed the door shut and found his arm was well and truly stuck.

In a tight spot: Police arrive to find the 17-year-old still stuck tight in the car door

The hapless teen had to call for help, and woke residents in Ardsley, Barnsley in the early hours of the morning with his screams of 'let me out'.

Police officers found him still trapped on the car roof with his left hand caught between the driver's door and bodywork.

The car's owner Janet Hooley, 68, said: 'It's an old car and he had managed to get his fingers in the door and prise it open.

'The kid must have been lying on top and got his arm in to pull up the button.

'When we heard a noise I went to the window and then outside. I said to him: "What are you doing with your arm in my car?"

It's a fair cop: The teen, from Hull, is handcuffed after officers manage to free him

'He replied: "It wasn't me." He was shouting "let me out" and I said "I am not."

'We called the police and about five police cars came. It was an easy cop for them.'

The teenager, who had raised the alarm at 1.10am on Tuesday morning was later charged with attempted theft and appeared at Barnsley Youth Court.

The 17-year-old was granted conditional bail with a curfew. He will appear again in court at Hull later this month.