Sydney -
A 65-year-old man flagged down the wrong car to ask for a lift in Adelaide early on Thursday morning, it was reported.
It turned out to be a police car and the police officers spotted copper piping sticking out of the man's backpack.
The Adelaide Advertiser reported police had been called to the area by a resident who heard someone rummaging in his back yard.
Police found copper piping missing from a hot water system.
The man was charged with theft and trespassing, and walked away on bail.
Sapa-dpa