Birmingham Airport police say 'won't get fooled again' after ‘suspicious people’ spotted in car

It was a case of once-bitten, twice shy for police officers at Birmingham Airport - after spotting a pair of "passengers" who seemed more at home in their car. Closer investigation revealed the occupants of a vehicle in a car park were a pair of seat covers with nose and eye holes cut out.

Earlier this year officers were alerted to reports of ‘suspicious people’ in a car at the airport car park. They posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, March 12: “To whoever owns these car seat cover, well played! Our officers spotted some "suspicious people" that hadn't left their car for some time and went to investigate!”

Read more: Birmingham Airport answers questions public want answered on security queues

On that occasion, the pair were found to be smiling seat covers of a man and woman, replete with sun tans and outfits – but rather one-dimensional. The covers ended at the lower torso with no legs or feet.

Replies to the post ‘took off’ with members of the public responding and joking back with the officers. Maurice_1960 quipped: “They are actually dehydrated.” Dom said: “Saw similar last week on a MG3 very life like. Looking for some for our VW Caddy van..”

Salvatore Amico said: “I see a smiley face seat cover on a car I pass every morning. It looks like there is a passenger in the front seat.

“It always makes me jump and creeps me out, because it’s a big smiling emoji.” Richard Stoyle said: “Lucky they had clothes on lol.”

Stephen Hines said: “Anti-theft option?” While NH Wayne said: “They were popular a few years ago when there were dedicated road lanes for cars with more than one occupant. If you used the lane with only the driver then you would get caught by a camera and subsequently fined.”

Brian Downes praised BHX police for coming clean on the mistake and said: “Birmingham Airport Police good sports for posting it.” This week two rather more sinister ‘characters’ were seen in cars. They look like two white balaclavas worn by menacing criminals – but again were simple headrest covers.

The airport police team did not fall for it on the latest occasion. Officers retweeted their March post and joked: “Not this time! We aren't getting spun again.”