A man got more than he bargained for after mistakenly calling 999 while trying to unlock his phone – 21 times.
Police launched an emergency response to the silent calls and tried repeatedly to get in touch with the person who made them by phone and text message.
When they got no reply, officers sent “blues and twos” to an address in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on Thursday night, to investigate.
Upon arrival they discovered the caller had read online that calling 999 would solve his technical problem.
A spokeswoman for Cambridgeshire police said officers explained the seriousness of the situation to the man, but no further action was taken.
The force added: “We do investigate every silent 999 call to ensure someone is not in trouble.
“However, 999 should only be used in a genuine emergency – and not to unlock a mobile phone.”
Most smartphones are able to call emergency services directly, even when the device is locked.