'Smiling' burglar features on Have I Got News For You - The Solihull Observer

'Smiling' burglar features on Have I Got News For You

Solihull Editorial 9th Apr, 2018   0

A COMICAL e-fit of a burglar issued by Warwickshire Police featured on Have I Got News For You.

Warwickshire Police posted the image showing a wide-mouthed smiling man online on Tuesday April 3 – and less than 24 hours later it had been shared on social media more than 22,000 times and ‘liked’ nearly 30,000 times by amused viewers

And three days later the e-fit received the ultimate comic accolade when it was shown on the long-running BBC satirical news quiz.

It prompted regular panellist Paul Merton to question what he had stolen – quipping ‘was it a piano?’.




After issuing the e-fit police took to social media to confirm the image was not a joke and to urge anyone with information to get in touch.

The e-fit was originally released with the serious purpose of trying to track down a man responsible for a distraction burglary in Stratford on February 5.


Two men claiming to be from Orbit Housing trick their way into a flat in Hertford Place which belonged to a woman in her 40s. One of the men distracted the woman while the other man searched the property.

When the victim realised what they were doing she ordered them to leave. The men left with a quantity of cash.

A police spokesman said: “We can confirm this is real and that we anticipated the attention. But jokes aside, it was created from a description provided and it’s serious as a woman was victim of a horrible crime.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or call 0800 555 111 to speak to Crimestoppers anonymously.

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