Car thief caught trapped in target vehicle

New cars are pictured in a parking lot at an assembly plant in Germany, February 18, 2009.

CANBERRA (Reuters) - A bungling Australian car thief was nabbed after accidentally locking himself in the vehicle he was trying to steal, police said Wednesday.

Police were called to a house in Adelaide after two thieves were heard trying to steal a car. On arrival they were surprised to find a 53-year old man hiding inside the vehicle.

"The man, while breaking into the car, had locked himself in the car and couldn't get out," South Australian police said, adding a second thief was found hiding in nearby bushes.

(Reporting by James Grubel; Editing by David Fox)