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Lawn Robot Messages Owner for Help, Foils Thief

When he went outside to the lawn to check on the device, he spotted the culprit.

Dramatic representation of the theft in progress.
Dramatic representation of the theft in progress.
iStock

BERLIN (AP) — A lawnmower robot's electronic cries for help foiled a thief's plan to make off with the grass-cutting automaton.

German police said Friday that a homeowner in the western town of Lippstadt was surprised on Tuesday evening with a smartphone message from the robot that it had flipped upside down.

When he went outside to the lawn to check on the device, he spotted a thief with the robot tucked under his arm.

Caught in the act, the thief dropped the robot and fled, according to police.

Officers searched the area but did not locate a suspect. Police are calling for any possible witnesses to come forward.

There was no word on whether the robot suffered damage in the incident.

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