UnBEARlievable!!

We're going to need some backup here: Car thief turns out to be... a hungry bear

By Mail Foreign Service

Last updated at 4:02 PM on 16th October 2009

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With the alarm blaring and a shadowy figure rummaging around in the vehicle it looked like just another car theft in progress.

But when the police arrived they realise they might need more than handcuffs to collar this intruder.

For it was not a human, but a bear, that had lumbered into the vehicle.

The animal had apparently crept up to the unlocked car, opened the door and climbed inside.

Can you bear-lieve it!: A bear broke a car belonging to a young Colorado couple on Wednesday morning

But as the door closed behind it, the young bear realised it couldn’t get out again and began to panic and thrash around, causing the alarm to go off.

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The incident was reported to police in the Colorado Mountain Estates subdivision near Florissant, Colorado at 2.30am by a young couple frightened their car was being stolen.

How do you drive this thing? The bear attracted attention after setting off the car alarm as it tried to escape

Deputies from the Teller County Sheriff's Office opened the car door and were no doubt relieved when the animal scampered off without encouragement.

It is thought the bear may have been attracted by the smell of food from within the car.

Bears are extremely hungry as they prepare for hibernation and have been know to break into cars and houses to reach food.

Get me out of here: Thankfully the bear fled once police officers opened the car door