Thanks once more to KorteLaw Krimestopper Eileen Lunsford for this useful advice:
If you’re going to steal a police car, make sure that no police are in it when you steal it.
From USA Today:
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A 20-year-old man was arrested after police say he tried to steal a car.
It wasn’t just any old car: It was a Fort Pierce, Fla., police patrol vehicle at the Fort Pierce Police Department with a police officer in it.
It happened about 5 a.m. on July 17 as Officer Robie Troutman was in his patrol vehicle at the main police station writing a report, according to his report.
“While in my vehicle, I heard the rear passenger side door handle make noise and then the front passenger side door handle make noise, where I was positioned seated in the driver seat of my clearly marked Fort Pierce Police Department Patrol vehicle,” the report said.
Troutman opened his door and reported seeing a man later identified as Aaron Orlando Rodriguez III run away and hide behind another vehicle.
Troutman and another officer detained Rodriguez and found two cellphones, a portable speaker, a $20 bill and a pipe with marijuana residue.
“Rodriguez said he saw my vehicle was running so he attempted to steal the vehicle so he had a ride home,” Troutman’s report said.
Rodriguez, of Okeechobee, Fla., was arrested on charges including attempted grand theft of a motor vehicle, loitering and prowling and possession of drug equipment.
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