A COMEDIAN found his car broken into — by police who mistook a mannequin inside for a body.
James Jarvis, 38, was left with a £1,000 bill for windows shattered by officers getting into his Peugeot 406.
Steve ReigateComedian James Jarvis found his car window had been smashed by police who thought his mannequin was a body[/caption]
They failed to spot the white figure, dressed in a scarf and jumper, wearing roller skates and with its featureless head wedged between the head rests, was a dummy.
James, who stored the prop in his car after using it in a festival routine, said: “You could quite clearly see it’s not a real human.
“Glass was everywhere. It has really upset me, as they could have used some common sense.
“My car is not secure at all now, which is worrying. I feel I need to sleep in it to keep it safe.”
James, who also works as a labourer, had left his silver- coloured vehicle in a Morrisons car park in Portsmouth, Hants.
He returned to it on Monday morning to find glass everywhere and police tape pasted over both shattered rear windows.
A note left on the driver’s seat gave a crime reference number and explained: “Reported to police as potential body in car. Windows smashed to gain entry.”
James, of Portsmouth, said the ordeal has led him to lose respect for the police — but hopes they will help cover repair costs.
He added: “It’s probably going to cost more to fix than its worth.
“It feels like the police believed they could do what they wanted with no regard.”
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed it was called by a member of the public at 12.40pm on Sunday.
A spokesman added: “Officers attended and had to force entry to the Peugeot to establish that no one was hurt or injured.”
Steve ReigateHe said that he hopes he will be compensated to cover the costs to fix his car[/caption] Read More