Man pretended to be a mannequin to lock himself in a mall for all night crime spree, police say

An alleged burglar used a bizarre technique in an attempt to gain access to a mall after hours.

There are many ways to get access to a building - you could pose an employee there, steal a key, or simply break in by force.

Alternatively, you could go into a store and hide somewhere before emerging after hours to help yourself.

One alleged criminal in Warsaw has attempted just that, but with an interesting twist.

Rather than find a secluded spot in which to conceal himself, CCTV shows the man standing in full view in a show window holding a bag.

There, he posed as a mannequin staying perfectly still. Then, when the mall closed he sprang into life like the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz, and headed off on an alleged crime spree around the mall.

He was described as standing “with a bag in his hand froze motionless, pretending to be a mannequin in front of a shop window. In this way, he wanted to avoid being exposed by the cameras.”

Warsaw Police

Police said in a statement: ''With a bag in his hand, he stood still in front of a shop window, pretending to be a display mannequin. When he felt safe, he went hunting and robbed the island of jewellery."

After the mall closed for the night, the alleged burglary came to life and he swapped his own clothes for other ones at a store.

The suspect, who has not been publicly named by the authorities, also allegedly plundered a jewellery stand in the shopping centre.

CCTV even shows him crawling under the partially closed shutters of an outlet in the mall.

What isn't clear is how long the alleged criminal had to stand there perfectly still while he waiting for the shop to close.

And more to the point, how did no one notice? Even when someone stands very still you can still see them breathing.

Warsaw Police

Somehow, the ploy actually succeeded in getting him inside the mall, at least until he got caught. Mind you, who's going to walk around making sure the mannequins aren't real?

He soon ran out of luck though and was spotted by a security guard at the mall, who called the police.

Now, the 22-year-old suspect could face up to ten years in prison after being accused of going round the mall taking jewellery and clothes, and even treating himself to two meals in restaurants.

He has now been remanded in custody for three months, and charged with burglary and theft.

The suspect has also been accused of taking items and cash from another mall.