The average person will not dial 999 [911 in the US] lightly. The subject of this post is clearly not the average person, because she called 999 when her snowman was stolen. Would the BBC lie? And even if they would, there’s audio of the 999 call. As reported by the BBC:
A woman who dialed 999 to report the theft of a snowman from outside her home has been branded “completely irresponsible” by Kent Police.
The force said the woman, from Chatham, thought the incident required their involvement because she used pound coins for eyes and teaspoons for arms.
During the conversation she said: “There’s been a theft from outside my house.” … “I haven’t been out to check on him for five hours but I went outside for a fag and he’s gone.”
When she was asked who had gone, the woman replied: “My snowman. I thought that with it being icy and there not being anybody about, he’d be safe.”
She was then asked whether it was an ornament, and answered: “No, a snowman made of snow, I made him myself.“
So, said the woman, maybe it’s not the best neighborhood, but …
“It ain’t a nice road but at the end of the day, you don’t expect someone to nick your snowman, you know what I mean?”
No, not really. 999 is for emergencies, know what I mean?
The operator then told her she had rung an emergency line and she should not be calling it to report the theft of a snowman.
Ch Insp Simon Black said: “This call could have cost someone’s life if there was a genuine emergency and they couldn’t get through.”
“We have spoken to her and advised her what is a 999 call, and this clearly was not.”
Clearly Chief Inspector Black has never had his snowman stolen. Here’s the source, including audio of the 999 call.