A 19-year-old thief is facing up to 5 years in jail in Russia – for trying to steal a Lada and getting caught when it would not start.

The teenage crook, who has not been named, had hoped to make a clean getaway in the car after breaking the window and climbing inside but found that the car would not start.

In the meantime, the 25-year-old unnamed owner discovered what had happened. He then called the cops in the town of Buzuluk in Russia’s Orenburg Region on 19th January.

A statement obtained from local police by Newsflash confirmed that the owner of the car, a 25-year-old man, confirmed that he had successfully driven the car to the spot and parked it that evening, and the next day and discovered the attempted theft with the broken side window.

It had snowed heavily in the region, and it is believed that the Lada known locally as a “VAZ 2121” may have not liked starting in the cold weather.

The Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia of Buzuluk town said the attacker was detained and taken to the police department for further investigation.

According to the young man arrested, identified only as a 19-year-old Buzuluk resident, he just wanted to get a free ride, but he could not start the car.

A police spokesman said: “We initiated a criminal case on the grounds of a crime under part 3 of article 30 of part 1 of article 166 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ‘Attempt to unlawfully take possession of a car without the purpose of theft (hijacking)’.

If found guilty, the youngster faces up to five years in jail.