Hedgehog sets off burglar alarm at German supermarket

A hedgehog set off a burglar alarm at a supermarket in western Germany after apparently becoming trapped inside overnight, police said on Tuesday.

Officers responding to the alarm found the animal in the entrance area of the store in the town of Mühlheim, near Frankfurt.

Police described the suspected intruder as "four-legged, small, round and apparently without criminal intent."

The hedgehog had probably slipped into the supermarket unnoticed the previous day and was accidentally locked inside after closing time.

It then triggered the alarm while exploring the store.

The animal was briefly checked before being released unharmed.