Watch CBS News

Cops: Thieves arrested after pocket-dialing 911

MADISON, Wis. - Police in Wisconsin's capital city barely had to try to catch a pair of unlucky suspected thieves.

Madison police say two men - Jason S. Hamielec, 29, and Brian A. Johnson, 28 - stole DVDs and computer games from a Target store Tuesday and discussed their plans to fence the goods while driving away.

Investigators say the duo didn't realize one of them had accidentally pocket-dialed 911. A dispatcher listened in as they described what they had stolen, according to CBS affiliate WISC in Madison, Wisc. Police say they even talked about the SUV they were driving in and discussed where they were going to sell the items. They even detailed how they thought police would be looking for a blue Dodge Durango without license plates, so they stopped and put the plates back on.

The two men decided the local Video X-Change was the best place to get the best prices - and made it very clear they were heading there, WISC reported. When they pulled into the parking lot, the cops were waiting for them, some with their guns drawn, according to a Madison Police Department news release.

After looking through and identifying the stolen items, an officer ended the call. The phone had been on the call for 54 minutes.

The two were picked up on retail theft charges and released, according to WISC.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.