I want a pizza the action! Wild bear balloons in weight after scavenging from bins and gorging on leftover takeaways

 Thirty-five stone. Over six feet tall. Always hungry. Meet Hank the Tank, the black bear whose voracious appetite could lead to a sticky end.

The bear has spent months scaring residents in South Lake Tahoe, California, while breaking into homes for food such as pizza and gorging in bins for leftovers.Ann Bryant, of wildlife rescue service the Bear League, said: ‘He didn’t get fat like that eating berries and grubs.’

Police have tried – and failed – to scare him off with paintballs, sirens and tasers

Police have tried – and failed – to scare him off with paintballs, sirens and tasers. Now they are trying to trap him, but if that fails euthanasia is on the cards.

Officials said Hank has broken into at least 28 homes since last summer as he searches for food.

The most recent saw him break and then squeeze through a small window on Friday, with the terrified homeowners having no idea how to get him out.

Eventually Hank wandered out of the open back door after officials banged on the outside of the house but they were unable to contain him

Peter Tira, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said: ‘This is a bear that has lost all fear of people. It’s a potentially dangerous situation.

Residents in South Lake Tahoe, north of San Francisco, have called the police about Hank more than 100 times since July.

Mr Tira added: ‘It’s easier to find leftover pizza than to go in the forest.’

A trap set last month failed to catch Hank so the authorities are now coming up with new ideas.

A plan to euthanise him would be the ‘last option,’ Mr Tira said. Many locals are against the idea.