Warwickshire Police have come in for a degree of ridicule over the past day, thanks to an e-fit picture issued of a burglary suspect.
The UK police force posted the image to Twitter yesterday, saying that they were looking for the suspect in relation to a 'distraction burglary' in Straford-upon-Avon.
We've issued an efit for of a suspect in a distraction burglary in Stratford in February. If you have any information please contact us. https://t.co/NipFniL1ed pic.twitter.com/oGiYfxIi2e
— Warwickshire Police (@warkspolice) April 3, 2018
After the initial reaction - it has been re-tweeted 17,000 times and liked 26,000 times in less than 24 hours - they posted a follow-up tweet saying that they had "anticipated the attention" and confirmed that it was real.
We can confirm that 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. Hopefully the attention will mean we identify the offender/bring him to justice quicker
— Warwickshire Police (@warkspolice) April 3, 2018
Of course, the internet being the internet, people have been posting their thoughts on who the culprit might be...
He sent me a snap! pic.twitter.com/ECc3b39YTM
— Laura (@_lauraslens_) April 4, 2018
— Keith MacPherson (@KeithMac733) April 4, 2018
Times must be hard after his Banana Splits days. pic.twitter.com/U0XeU4G774
— karl newsome (@karlsn74) April 3, 2018
Case is closed. I found your man in a pineapple under the sea. It was a real shocker. pic.twitter.com/dZ0lwJAw9K
— emily ðŸ'« (@pure_howell) April 3, 2018
Spotted the fiend walking past my van earlier pic.twitter.com/uiQbVDqygI
— MACE (@macewhu69) April 3, 2018
Fixed it pic.twitter.com/HmV6VaPQ26
— Ryan Rafferty (@RyanRafferty96) April 4, 2018
— Support Amber (@voteforrudd) April 3, 2018
This dude looks like Elmo when he imagined he had teeth😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/i0mhUh6YoH
— Derek Bradley (@DatDiggityDerek) April 4, 2018
— jonie1303 #NHSLove (@jonie1303) April 3, 2018
Distraction you say pic.twitter.com/azTiUbiwOg
— Lee Williams (@TheLeeWilliams) April 4, 2018
We'll be on the lookout : pic.twitter.com/BW8172oozq
— TinaVB ðŸ?˜ (@SnookiLoveDolls) April 4, 2018
Found him pic.twitter.com/kVkLXkoj0O
— âš½ White Hart Kane âš½ï¸? (@WhiteHartKane_) April 4, 2018