Boxed In

Authorities responding to an emergency call in the district of Weitmar were greeted by the unusual sight of two desperately wriggling feet protruding from a metal container used to accept clothing donations. Was this a case of someone going a bit too far to procure a unique bit of retro fashion? Or had he forgotten to remove his clothing before donating it to charity?

No, it turned out that the man was trying to retrieve his companion's purse.

Police said it wasn't exactly clear how the purse, which contained the woman's cell phone and other articles of value, ended up in the container. But the man was apparently trying to prove his love by diving into a box of old duds.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened in Bochum. Last year, police were also summoned to a container to free a man who reportedly held out a cigarette and asked for a light when they first arrived.

That was impossible this time around since the man had entered the container headfirst. Police had to use the jaws of life to extract him.

The man was dizzy from spending an hour suspended upside-down, but he did not have to be taken to hospital. The container, however, reportedly suffered fatal wounds in the incident.