Grand Theft Auto
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida-
Stealing a car is a very serious crime and usually results in very stiff penalties. Despite that fact, and the fact that there is a high likelihood one will be caught if they do steal a car, it is a very common practice, and criminals are willing to take the risk. In fact, car theft is so common, that according to the Lojack.com website, a recent FBI Uniform Crime report estimated that nearly 800,000 motor vehicles were reported stolen in the United States in 2009, accounting for $5.2 billion in lost assets. So, as you can see, Grand Theft Auto is no joke. The thought of spending years behind bars does not deter everyone, as some will steal for the money that can be made with a stolen car on the black market, and others will steal simply for the thrill of a joyride.
Unfortunately, young car thieves are not that uncommon either. These days they seem to be starting younger and younger. In Eastern Florida a couple of teenagers took a walk on the wild side and decided they would try their hand at a little of the fast and the furious. The car thieving kids, 19-year-old Stefanie Vargas and her 13-year-young male accomplice, were out on the town looking for cars they could jack. The smarts to effectively steal a car or cars apparently comes with years and years of practice and eluded these two. Poor Stefanie and her sidekick little Robin didn’t yet have what it takes to pull off a car heist.
The pair were in Daytona Beach and had gained access to one particular car and were rummaging around inside it, discussing what cars are good to take and which ones were not. The whole interaction was fairly comical depending on who you ask. If you ask the police they would agree, because they were listening to the unsuspecting kiddos as they ransacked the car. One of the two naïve hoodlums somehow unknowingly dialed 911 and the whole call was being listened to and recorded. And naturally, officers were on their way to the scene.
When officers arrived the two youthful crooks tried to escape in an SUV driven by the older felon, but they didn’t make it far and were both quickly apprehended. They both admitted to their transgressions. I don’t blame them considering the whole damn thing was recorded.
I don’t quite understand how a cell phone could randomly dial 911 unless it was programmed in. It’s been a many years, but I do recall an old cell phone I used to have that had the #9 speed-dial reserved for 911 and it couldn’t be changed. Who knows, maybe that’s what happened. Either way it’s pretty funny. I’ll bet the 911 dispatchers could hardly contain their laughter and amusement.
The moral of the story: It’s usually in one’s best interest not to call 911 when trying to steal a car.
© 2011 StrangeRush.com
