The Case of the Prehistoric Getaway
A stolen van. Two missing reptiles. One very tired constable.
“Someone stole my dinosaurs,” Tom said, dead serious, planting both palms on the counter of the Purfleet police station.
His jacket was zipped halfway, revealing a Raptors World logo with a grinning cartoon T. rex wearing sunglasses. The constable lifted an eyebrow in disbelief. “Sorry—did you just say someone stole your—?”
“Dinosaurs. Two of them!” Tom continued. “One's a Tyrannosaurus named Rexy, the other’s a light green velociraptor called Yoshi.”
She gave him a long, wary look. “You’re telling me someone stole your dinosaurs?”
“Yes. They cost ten grand each.”
Her expression tightened, wondering whether to laugh or take notes. “And how exactly were these prehistoric performers stolen?”
“They were in my van,” Tom said. “A white Mercedes Sprinter. Parked overnight at the Premier Inn.”
“Alright. Got a registration?”
Tom provided it. She typed.
Tom reached into his satchel and pulled out a laminated flyer. “This is them. Rexy has a working jaw and an audio rig. Yoshi can blink realistically and do high-fives. They’re part of a traveling show. Birthday parties, science events, shopping centres—”
She took the flyer from his hand and studied it, eyes narrowing as she took in the photo. Two towering animatronic reptiles loomed behind a child’s party table, one mid-roar, the other throwing jazz hands.
“That was from a party in Bristol,” Tom said proudly.
Tom reached into his satchel and produced a laminated flyer. “This is them. Rexy has a working jaw and audio rig. Yoshi can blink and do high-fives. They cost ten grand each.”
She took the flyer. It showed two towering reptiles looming behind a child’s party table, one mid-roar, the other throwing jazz hands.
“That was from a party in Bristol,” Tom said proudly.
After a pause, the constable let out a slow breath and rubbed her forehead.
“Alright,” she muttered with visible reluctance. “Let’s do this properly. Stolen van. Contents: two animatronic dinosaurs. Estimated value: £20,000.”
“Thank you.”
She stared down at the flyer, then up at him with deadpan exhaustion. “If this turns into some kind of viral video—”
Tom didn’t miss a beat. “Then I’ll finally be able to get funding for a Triceratops.”
Real headlines that vaguely resemble today’s fiction:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly5dk219gwo
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14682679/thieves-steal-animatronic-dinosaurs-hotel.html
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