Buzz Lightyear catches thief

Buzz Lightyear was the 'must-have' toy of 1996

A shoplifter in Hereford was caught by police with a little help from a talking toy.

Shaun Markey, 27, was pursued after stealing a Buzz Lightyear doll from the Woolworths store in the town.

He took refuge at a nearby rugby club, but police found him when the toy began to speak.

Markey pleaded guilty to theft at Hereford Magistrates Court on Friday.

Police search

Dolls of the Buzz Lightyear character, from the Toy Story films, were highly sought after when they first appeared in 1996.

Staff from Woolworths gave chase after Markey was seen leaving the store with one of the toys.

They lost sight of him, but a radio network linking shops in the town with the police alerted a nearby dog handling team.

It was while Markey was hiding near Hereford Rugby Club that the doll spoke the words: "Buzz Lightyear, permission to engage."

The search team heard the doll and the sound led them to the thief.

Markey is due to appear in court again next month for sentencing.