'It Was 30 Seconds Of Chaos': Owner Of Stolen SUV Fights Back
DENVER (CBS4)- Police in Denver searched for two thieves wanted for carjacking an SUV and crashing into a garage on Saturday.
The owner of the SUV saw the thief sitting in the driver's seat and tried to stop him from taking off.
"It was 30 seconds of chaos," said driver Luke Kusner. "Just like that."
Kusner described his brief but physical battle with the thief, "And then I hopped back on, started fighting and grabbing him."
Kusner had parked his SUV in an alley behind his home between Lipan and Ohio before noon on Saturday. He stepped away from his car for less than a minute to get a drink of water-- the keys still in the ignition.
When CBS4's Howard Nathan asked, "Did you hit him?" Kusner replied, "Uh, we got in some altercation, you know, hand fighting and stuff... You're trying to regain control of your vehicle."
Kusner suffered minor scrapes to his right arm and hip.
An officer saw the SUV speeding out of the alley and watched as Kusner limped along the alley.
"So right away they were on it," said Kusner.
The thief drove the SUV right into his neighbor's garage.
The SUV isn't new, it's 20 years old with nearly 300,000 miles on it. But Kusner wasn't ready to let it go so easily.
"I have got this vehicle so stuck, so unstuck... yeah, she's had some adventures, me and her," said Kusner.
The thief abandoned the car about two blocks away right around the corner after crashing into the garage.
Police continue to search for two Hispanic males in their 20s, both have a thin build and very short hair. Witnesses said they looked alike. The suspects were in a white minivan before they stole the SUV.
Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police.
Howard Nathan is a veteran newsman. Decades later, he still enjoys writing a clever sentence, asking the tough question and talking to people in Colorado. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Howard and read his bio.