Cape Town - The man who used his own faeces as a "weapon" to help him and a buddy escape from a Cape Town police car, was to have been profiled for pickpocketing, police said on Friday.

It has emerged that the feisty escapee had not shoved the faeces into a police officer’s mouth, but came close on Wednesday afternoon.

He defecated in his trousers while on the back seat, said Cape Town central police station spokesperson Captain Ezra October.

“He took out the human faeces and charged to the policeman sitting at the back of the moving vehicle.”

Curious bystanders near Spin Street had seen the visibly disgusted officer get out and apparently heard him scream: “Hy het op sy hand gekak en dit in my mond gedruk!" [He defecated onto his hand and pushed it in my mouth].

October said the driver had to bring the vehicle to a sudden halt and the officer jumped out.

With the back door still open, two men jumped out after him and ran off towards Adderley Street, a witness said.

They did not appear to be handcuffed.

October confirmed they ran off without being profiled at the police station and having their fingerprints taken.

He said members of the public had earlier complained to the three undercover cops in the marked vehicle.

“They complained and pointed out to them two known Tanzanian nationals who are part of a group that are pickpocketing people between Strand and Lower Plein Street.”

The spot was close to the bus terminus.

“This area is known to Cape Town Central Police as a hotspot area for pickpocketing and that’s the rationale for our undercovers to work there and try to apprehend these suspects.”

He said using faeces was a common tactic and challenging for officers during an arrest.

The police were concerned about the associated health risks.