With the Olympics under way in Britain's capital city, one might imagine London police have their hands full. But last week, two officers proved there's always time to do a good deed.

Officers Helen Hansen and Dave Kadwell have been credited with rescuing a hamster that fell 12 feet from an open window and was chased by a cat, NPR reports.

The incident happened late Thursday night after Rolo the hamster tumbled out of a first floor window and bounced off the hood of a car.

The runaway rodent would've almost certainly become kitty food had the officers not been close at hand.

According to the BBC, Hansen and Kadwell waved their arms to scare away the furry fiend before attempting to capture the 1-year-old pet hamster. Hansen finally managed to trap the rodent under her helmet.

After no one stepped forward to claim the hamster, Hansen and Kadwell took to the task of locating Rolo's rightful owners.

Fortunately, the officers noticed an apt "Beware of the Hamster" sign in a first floor window, and Rolo was soon reunited with his family, the BBC reports.

Debbie Rook said her whole family had been sleeping when the hamster escaped.

“Until they knocked on the door, we didn’t know he was missing," she told the Mirror. “I can’t believe a hamster survived a drop like that. We’re grateful to the police for coming to the rescue.”

Rolo belongs to Rook's 13-year-old son, Bradley.

For more rodent madness, click through this slideshow of hamsters named after US presidents:

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  • Madison

    Madison the great male seale point hamster, whose namesake James Madison was the 4th president of the United States, the "Father of the Constitution" and was once <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/19/opinion/essay-little-jemmy.html" target="_hplink">nicknamed "Little Jemmy."</a> The shelter estimates that hamster Madison is about 4 months old. <em>Animal ID: #A0614917 Call the Dumb Friends League's Quebec Shelter at (303) 751-5772 to <a href="http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=DDFL.A0614917" target="_hplink">meet with Madison</a>.</em>

  • J.Q. Adams

    We're betting this little 6-months-old seale point hamster is one courageous guy to be named for the 6th President who once said, "Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air." <em>Animal ID: #A0614919 Call the Dumb Friends League's Quebec Shelter at (303) 751-5772 to <a href="http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=DDFL.A0614919" target="_hplink">meet with J.Q. Adams</a>.</em>

  • Harrison

    Unfortunately it is not known whether this adorable 1-year-old hamster is named for the 23rd President Benjamin Harrison or the 9th President William Henry Harrison. However it's more likely that he's named for the latter, since the theme amongst these hamsters seems to be presidents predating Abraham Lincoln. W.H. Harrison was backed by the Whig party, and became known as the <a href="http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/2009/07/hard-cider-and-log-cabin-for-president.html" target="_hplink">"Hard Cider and Log Cabin" candidate</a>, owing to his log cabin campaign symbol. <em>Animal ID #A0614922 Call the Dumb Friends League's Quebec Shelter at (303) 751-5772 to <a href="http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=DDFL.A0614922" target="_hplink">meet with Harrison</a>. </em>

  • Tyler

    Tyler is a 1-year-old male seal point white hamster. President John Tyler was the 10th President of the United States who was the Vice President to President Harrison and took over when Harrison succumbed to pneumonia. <em>Animal ID#A0614923 Call the Dumb Friends League's Quebec Shelter at (303) 751-5772 to <a href="http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=DDFL.A0614923" target="_hplink">meet with Tyler</a>.</em>

  • Polk

    Meet Polk, a male seal point and white hamster. The phrase "Manifest Destiny" was popularized during the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamespolk" target="_hplink">11th President's term</a>, as he "re-annexed" Texas, insisted upon "re-occupying" Oregon, and acquired New Mexico and California. We're sure this little guy would be happy to nibble on a map or two if you let him. <em>Animal ID #A0614924 Call the Dumb Friends League's Quebec Shelter at (303) 751-5772 to take <a href="http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=DDFL.A0614924" target="_hplink">reacquaint yourself with the historic name Polk</a>. </em>

  • Taylor

    Taylor is another seal point hamster who's about 1-year-old. President Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States who once <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/zacharytaylor" target="_hplink">threatened to lead an invasion of the South</a> if any southern states tried to secede from the Union. If he lives up to his namesake, this little guy is one bold hamster. <em>Animal ID #A0614925 Call the Dumb Friends League's Quebec Shelter at (303) 751-5772 to <a href="http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=DDFL.A0614925" target="_hplink">meet Taylor the hamster</a>. </em>

  • Fillmore

    Hamster Fillmore is a 1-year-old seal point and white hamster. His namesake President Millard Fillmore refused to join the Republican Party after the Whigs disintegrated. He did however<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/millardfillmore" target="_hplink"> join the Know Nothing party</a>. <em>Animal ID#A0614926 Call the Dumb Friends League's Quebec Shelter at (303) 751-5772 to <a href="http://www.petharbor.com/pet.asp?uaid=DDFL.A0614926" target="_hplink">meet hamster Fillmore</a>. </em>

h/t: Gawker

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