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'Escaped crocodile' was inflatable toy, police discover | 'Escaped crocodile' was inflatable toy, police discover |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police officers called out to a report of a suspected escaped crocodile in Plymouth discovered the "animal" was an inflatable toy. | Police officers called out to a report of a suspected escaped crocodile in Plymouth discovered the "animal" was an inflatable toy. |
A woman called for help after she saw the 3ft (1m) imitation reptile in her garden at Cundy Close at 12:20 BST. | A woman called for help after she saw the 3ft (1m) imitation reptile in her garden at Cundy Close at 12:20 BST. |
She asked two neighbours for assistance but called emergency services after they agreed it was too dangerous to approach the creature unarmed. | |
Police snapped into gear arriving with snare poles, nets and riot shields. | |
Devon and Cornwall Police also alerted a team of wildlife experts from Dartmoor Zoo to help. | Devon and Cornwall Police also alerted a team of wildlife experts from Dartmoor Zoo to help. |
The officers threw water over the "crocodile" from a safe distance and gingerly approached when it did not move. It was only then, on closer inspection, they realised it was harmless. | The officers threw water over the "crocodile" from a safe distance and gingerly approached when it did not move. It was only then, on closer inspection, they realised it was harmless. |
Despite warnings to never smile at a crocodile, they were left grinning as they removed the toy from the garden and placed it in police custody. | |
While the police response was scaled back, Dartmoor Zoo team was stood down. | |
'Absolutely mortified' | 'Absolutely mortified' |
"I was making my lunch in the kitchen and looked out into the back garden," said the home owner, who did not wish to be named. | "I was making my lunch in the kitchen and looked out into the back garden," said the home owner, who did not wish to be named. |
"It was pouring with rain and I saw what I thought was a crocodile in the garden. I went to my neighbour's house to ask if they would come and have a look at it. | "It was pouring with rain and I saw what I thought was a crocodile in the garden. I went to my neighbour's house to ask if they would come and have a look at it. |
"They did think it was a baby crocodile and suggested calling the RSPCA or the police. We decided to call the police as I have a three-year-old and was worried. | "They did think it was a baby crocodile and suggested calling the RSPCA or the police. We decided to call the police as I have a three-year-old and was worried. |
"A policeman and a policewoman arrived and at that point we were all a bit suspicious because it hadn't moved. | "A policeman and a policewoman arrived and at that point we were all a bit suspicious because it hadn't moved. |
"One of the police officers bravely went out to have a look. They threw water on it and it didn't move. I'm absolutely mortified." | "One of the police officers bravely went out to have a look. They threw water on it and it didn't move. I'm absolutely mortified." |
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that officers attended the incident following the woman's call. | A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that officers attended the incident following the woman's call. |
"We received a call from a concerned member of the public reporting that an escaped crocodile was in their garden, approximately 3ft in length," the force spokesman said. | "We received a call from a concerned member of the public reporting that an escaped crocodile was in their garden, approximately 3ft in length," the force spokesman said. |
"Police officers attended and bravely investigated. The beast turned out to be an inflatable toy crocodile. Police have apprehended the crocodile." | "Police officers attended and bravely investigated. The beast turned out to be an inflatable toy crocodile. Police have apprehended the crocodile." |
The spokesman said it was not known how the toy had come to be in the woman's garden. | |
Dartmoor Zoo said experts were regularly called out to deal with escaped pets including lizards and snakes. | |
"The team were on the road with all the equipment needed," said the zoo spokesman. |
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