This guy thought it would be a great idea to put his phone in a gun-shaped case and go to the airport

A UK man has found himself in hot water this week after strolling into the London Stansted Airport with what appeared to be a pistol. The object was in fact a iPhone case ‘cleverly’ designed to look like a firearm. In a turn of events that surprised no one, the man was swiftly arrested and could face charges.

Police have long been irritated with this trend of gun-shaped smartphone cases, calling them a terrible idea that complicates the already difficult job of identifying and controlling real threats. Major retailers including eBay and Amazon refuse to sell these cases at the behest of law enforcement. Cops say these cases do little but endanger the lives of their owners.

Essex police took this opportunity to post a picture of the case on Twitter, commenting “You have a split decision to make… #WhatWouldYouDo?” They then followed that tweet up with an image of the iPhone case saying, “Someone decided to put themselves in such a situation today.”

While it’s great to have a case that protects your smartphone from damage, it’s probably a better idea to grab one that doesn’t end up winning you a Darwin Award. “Some people do not realize the risks associated with openly carrying or displaying these replicas in a public space,” said a responding officer. “Anyone who owns this type or similar devices should safely dispose of them immediately.” Police in New York and New Jersey have previously issued public warnings urging citizens not to use these cases.

What do you think of this man’s decision to walk into an international airport with a gun-shaped smartphone case? Let us know your take in the comments below!