Car thief stole hearse for joy ride – with corpse still in the back

The 40-year-old took vehicle after seeing keys left in ignition

Police in Jalisco say they caught a man who stole a hearse — complete with a corpse inside (CPM)

As car thefts go, it was certainly an unusual one: a man in Mexico has been arrested after stealing a hearse – complete with a corpse in the back.

The 40-year-old took the vehicle for a joy ride after seeing the keys left inside on Friday night, police say.

It is not clear if he was aware the body of an 80-year-old was lying in the back ahead of a funeral in the city of Tlaquepaque in Jalisco state.

Police were alerted to the incident shortly after the car disappeared – but had no problem spotting the motor as it travelled along a city highway.

The suspect, named only as “Annibal Saul N”, was detained and the case handed over to prosecutors, ABC News reports.

Both hearse and body were handed back undamaged.