Fugitive ferret caught in Melbourne

Melbourne police have done some ferreting around and caught a "dangerous escapee".

Police were patrolling on Wednesday when they detected a ferret running down "the mean streets of St Kilda".

After several attempts officers managed to arrest it with the help of a cardboard box, taking the furry fugitive back to the clink to run his paw prints.

Police gave the prisoner a banana before taking it to a nearby animal clinic.

"Other than trying escape a couple times, it seemed to be pretty friendly towards police," Stonnington police service area said on Facebook.