Police have become the subject of a running joke after announcing an investigation into the theft — of a SCOTCH EGG.
A woman picked up a £1.65 packet of the snacks in a Co-Op and ate them before leaving the store without paying.
The crime happened in Minehead, Somerset, ONE month ago and Avon and Somerset police are still trying to crack it.
The force has now issued pictures of the hardened criminal and announced: “The theft has been reported to police and an investigation has begun.”
They add: “If you recognise the woman, contact Avon and Somerset Police on 101 and quote 9774/14.”
But the case has triggered a flurry of wisecracks on Twitter, led by BBC presenter Jeremy Vine.
He said: “It’s all kicking off in Minehead – after investigating for a MONTH, here’s what the police have got.”
D Reid Macpherson joked: “They will have difficulty cracking the case.”
Paul Connew said: “Am I too hard-boiled by thinking the cops’ brains scrambled by trying to crack it? Farcical.”
‘Puncroaker’ added: “Well done Somerset police, targeting the hard boiled criminals.
And Chris Wright said: “Got to nip it in the bud early, todays its scotch eggs, tomorrow pork pies, pretty soon they’ll have a full picnic.”
Meanwhile, as his officers got their teeth into the Scotch Egg Mystery, Chief Constable Nick Gargan found his hands full with another hot concern yesterday.
He tweeted: “When Roosevelt made his famous quote about life’s greatest prize he’d clearly not had a cheese & onion pasty from Greggs on the M4 @ Reading.”
