What would you do with a Snow Day, that wonderful phrase for a day off work induced by snow disruption to transport? Go sledging? Build a snowman? Or how about steal a snowman? Would anyone really be capable of such an ice-cold feat? According to one “victim” in the U.K., that’s exactly what happened.
The unnamed woman from Chatham in Kent (one of area’s worst affected by the U.K.’s cold snap) called the emergency services number, 999, and demanded to speak to the police. Her emergency: someone had stolen her snowman.
(See pictures of the snowstorm that hit Washington DC earlier this year.)
In the sound clip provided by the BBC, you can clearly hear the woman make her serious theft report to a stunned telephone operator. This gratuitous crime against fun is yet to be investigated by Kent police, but they did have some stern words for the woman as they clearly do not deem the abduction of snowmen as high up on the list of serious emergencies as she did. “I haven’t been out to check on him for five hours but I went outside for a [cigarette] and he’s gone,” she exclaimed, pointing out that the police were needed in light of her using coins for eyes and teaspoons for arms.
(See pictures of Christmas at the White House.)
“This call could have cost someone’s life if there was a genuine emergency and they couldn’t get through,” Chief Inspector Simon Black said. “It was completely irresponsible.” As for the woman — “We have spoken to her and advised her what is a 999 call, and this clearly was not,” said Black — any sympathy one might have had for her has surely melted away.