Officers from the Baker and Teller Counties Sheriff's Office were called when a young couple noticed someone inside their car at 2:30am. But when the police arrived, they found that the intruder was not a criminal, but a hungry young black bear who had wandered into the unlocked vehicle.
Many bears who live near human populations have learned how to open car doors, said local sheriff Kevin Dougherty.
Experts say it may have been attracted by the smell of food from within the car.
After getting inside, the door closed behind it, and it was unable to escape. When it realised this, it panicked and thrashed about, setting off the car alarm.
Officers opened the car door from the outside, and -- presumably to their relief -- the creature needed no encouragement to slink off on its own.
Police are now warning locals to be very careful not to leave food in their vehicles.
It is not the first time a bear has been involved in apparent Grand Theft Auto. A bear in New Jersey managed not only to break into a people carrier, but accidentally to release the handbrake, sending the car rolling 50 feet downhill.
On that occasion the bear managed to break a window and effect its own escape.