Police bit off more than they could chew after tackling this angry crocodile -- with a towel.

Officers were called in after the large reptile moved into a residential area in Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia.

Resident Jaye Bedford captured a clip of a Fitzroy Crossing police officer trying to sneak up beind the croc and subdue it with a towel over its head.

But the crocodile had other ideas and thrashed its head violently and whipped the towel away.

Officers made several unsuccessful attempts to control the animal before calling in experts Wild Life West, to assist.

A Fitzroy police statement revealed that the crocodile was successfully tranquilised and moved to a nearby river system.

Jaye filmed a second croc, surrounded by members of the community, as well as police officers and a volunteer from Wild Life West.

But the crocodile evaded capture and via a water-filled ditch and made good its escape.

The footage was filmed on January 26.