Police officers who chased a car at speed through south London were stunned to discover a stolen goldfish in a pint glass in the boot.
The pet fish miraculously survived the entire chase and ensuing crash in an unsecured glass filled with water, loose on the floor of the boot.
The chase began when a “suspicious” car was spotted by officers in Chessington and quickly sped off into the distance.
A team of police cars tracked down the vehicle to a nearby road where it had crashed. As they pulled up the driver and passenger got out and fled towards houses.
Officers began searching the inside of the car and immediately found items believed to have been stolen in a burglary. They then opened the boot where a pint glass full of water was standing upright, with a live goldfish swimming around.
Kingston Police spokesman Seb Ellis told the Standard: “We discovered a goldfish, in a pint glass, just sitting there chilling and casually staring at us. We couldn’t understand how even after the fast driving and the crash the pint glass was still upright!
“Officers at the scene affectionately named the fish as Peter. Goodness knows what the fish was thinking after his tour around Chessington in a pint glass.”
Police immediately linked the incident, which happened on May 5, to a recent burglary in which TV, cash, shoes and a goldfish had been swiped.
Peter the goldfish was taken back home and returned to his tank, where he is reported to be recovering well. Kingston officers are continuing to investigate the burglary.
The driver of the car was later found and arrested, police said.
