Mich. cop "smokes out" suspect in credit card theft

(CBS/AP) TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - A Michigan detective can credit his latest arrest to legwork, luck and one man's penchant for puffing.

A Traverse City police officer went to a local gas station Thursday to show clerks a surveillance video image of someone accused of stealing a credit card. At that very moment, the man Det. Kevin Gay was looking for was standing right there, buying a pack of cigarettes.

More proof that smoking is bad for you.

Capt. Brian Heffner, who leads the detective bureau, said a chance encounter like this is rare but welcome.

"The odds are definitely against this happening. ... On the exact day and time he's in there, the suspect is buying a pack of cigarettes," Heffner told the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

The suspect smoker was arrested and faces charges of unlawful use of a credit card, the newspaper reports.

Maybe he can do an anti-smoking PSA, too.