What started as a routine patrol in downtown Frankfurt quickly turned into one of the most unbelievable moments ever caught on police bodycam.
Two German officers were responding to a call about suspicious noises coming from a nearby parking garage. When they arrived, they found nothing unusual — at least not at first. But as they circled their unmarked BMW police vehicle, a faint sound echoed from the trunk.
At first, they thought it might be a malfunctioning radio or maybe an animal that had crawled in during the night. But when they popped open the trunk — chaos erupted.
Out sprang a terrified man, covered in dirt and duct tape, shouting for help. The officers jumped back as he stumbled out, gasping for air. Within seconds, it became clear: this wasn’t a random person. He was a kidnapping victim — one who had been missing for nearly 48 hours.
According to reports, the man had been abducted by a gang involved in illegal car trafficking. They had used an identical BMW model as a getaway car. In the confusion of an earlier operation, the criminals apparently abandoned their vehicle — and somehow, the victim ended up trapped inside.
When the officers unknowingly towed the car to the precinct lot as part of an unrelated investigation, they had no idea a man was locked in the trunk the entire time.
Once freed, the man was taken to the hospital and treated for dehydration and shock. He told detectives that he had been locked inside for over a day, surviving only by conserving air and banging on the trunk when he heard noises outside.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the police department — and the public. “It’s something straight out of a movie,” one spokesperson said. “No one expected this outcome when that trunk opened.”
The investigation has since led to three arrests connected to a cross-border car smuggling ring. The BMW, now infamous, remains in police custody as evidence.
As for the officers who opened the trunk — they’re being hailed as heroes for their quick reaction and calm under pressure, even though they admit they were just as stunned as everyone else.
One officer later told reporters, “When we lifted that trunk, I thought we’d find tools or a spare tire — not a man begging for his life.”