Jan. 12, 2009

Text Messages Nab Carjacking Suspect

Report: Man Lures Thieves Who Stole BMW Into Police Trap By Sending Messages About Drugs And Girls To Stolen Phone

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(CNET)  If texting is dangerous while driving a car, it's downright idiotic while stealing one.

An Ohio man used a friend's cell phone to get back his car, cell phone, and cash, all of which were stolen in a car jacking, according to a local TV report. Alan Heuss was sitting in his running BMW in Columbus on Wednesday when an armed man opened a passenger door, stuck a gun in his face, and made off with his stuff.

After filing a police report, Heuss was meeting with some friends to drown his sorrows when one suggested that they try to contact the thieves by texting Heuss' stolen cell phone.

"He said, 'I'm going to text these guys, I'm going to blow some smoke their way,'" Heuss told the station. "He said, 'I'm going to tell them I've got a bunch of hot chicks, as if I'm texting you, and that we've got some drugs, too.'"

The carjacking suspects fell for the ruse and went to an address sent to them by Heuss' friend just seven hours after the carjacking. But instead of the "hot chick with drugs" they were expecting, they were met with by cops with cuffs.

And to make things easier for the officers, the suspects showed up in the stolen car.


By Steven Musil
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Add a Comment
by rf35 January 13, 2009 7:23 AM EST
Extra jail time for incompetent criminals? Maybe we could do the same for the incompetent executives that ruined American business!
Reply to this comment
by peace_fresa January 12, 2009 7:16 PM EST
jajajaja!!!!
:)
tsk.people these
days.

ditto.to.rational_1
Reply to this comment
by rational_1 January 12, 2009 5:03 PM EST
Well this ruse obviously works if you happen to be carjacked by Forrest Gump, but how many other criminals are really this stupid? These fools should get a couple of extra years in the clink just for being complete morons. LOL
Reply to this comment
by oldpilot954 January 12, 2009 4:50 PM EST
Criminals are rarely all that smart -- they only think they are smarter than everyone else. Of course, a lot of guys get caught by girls and illegal pharmacuticals!
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