I am continually amazed at criminals. Really. I mean, where else can you find someone smart enough to do some of the things they do to pull off a crime, yet dumb enough to get caught in the most obvious ways?
This week's Strange News focuses on just that. In Pensacola Florida, Artemio Castillo, 49, and Ernesto Garcia, 41 needed a ride to Mississippi. There was just one small catch. They didn't have a car. So at around 7:00 PM, they wandered to a Parade gas station figuring they could hitch a ride with someone. They asked an employee just coming to work, Vince Nguyen if they could hitch a ride. Nguyen told them no, as he was just arriving for work. So, instead of taking a bus or cab or whatever, they decided "Hey...lets steal one!"
This week's Strange News focuses on just that. In Pensacola Florida, Artemio Castillo, 49, and Ernesto Garcia, 41 needed a ride to Mississippi. There was just one small catch. They didn't have a car. So at around 7:00 PM, they wandered to a Parade gas station figuring they could hitch a ride with someone. They asked an employee just coming to work, Vince Nguyen if they could hitch a ride. Nguyen told them no, as he was just arriving for work. So, instead of taking a bus or cab or whatever, they decided "Hey...lets steal one!"
Alright. Fine. People tend to steal cars. I give them credit. I sure don't have the guts to do it, but if I did, I certainly would pick a car that blends in. You know, not a high end sports car, for example. They did the right thing by picking a Ford Escort. Lots of those around, right?
Well, unfortunately, this dark blue Ford Escort had a missing hubcap, and the license plates were from Missouri. Strike one, guys....you live in Florida.
But wait, kids....that's not all. They happened to find this diamond in the rough at the gas station. Unbeknownst to them, the car's owner, Pam Pease, was employed at the gas station. So off they went, obviously giddy with excitement that they pulled off the heist.
Around 7:30, Pease realized her car had been stolen, and reported it to the authorities.
Obviously not on their way to Bible study, Castillo and Garcia noted that the car needed gas. Oh noes.
And now we see the evolution of a criminal's mind. Minds that are so sharp when it comes to doing the actual crime but become dull as as river rocks afterwards.
Back to the police. Deputies were entering the stolen vehicle data into the computer when they received the second call from Parade employees that the car had reappeared. Obviously a mistake, right? The entire Pensacola police had not even been alerted from the dispatcher that the car was stolen.
Well, the brilliant thieving minds came back to the same gas station to get some gas. Hey...the place was friendly enough to give us a car, why not gas!
Pease was sweeping up cigarette butts when all of a sudden here comes her Escort, rolling into the service station. Strike two guys. Nguyen, who speaks Spanish, asked the pair what they were doing back at the station.
"They told him they needed gas," Pease said.
Nguyen shut off the vehicle and offered the men water while co-workers called 911. They must have thought..."Free cars, free gas, free water!! This is the best gas station evar!"
Police arrived and after a short foot chase, the two were apprehended and were charged with grand theft auto and resisting arrest. They are being held in the Escambia County Jail on $7,500 bond each.
"That's a new one. Maybe they were lost," noted Sgt. Ted Roy, Sheriff's Office spokesman. "Crimes like that are good for our job security."
And also good for a laugh.
Since the weekend is slow in terms of tech news, we will try to enlighten you on the strange news that you may not have seen on your late local news. Neowin's Strange News of the Week will hopefully show you, our esteemed readers, that your life isn't all that bad. -- BOOG

LOL
<sarcasm>Yeah, cause god forbid there are no stupid people in England.</sarcasm>
From a quick google search. You know these types of things only happen in America though.
In England a gang hired a man to drive their getaway car for a series of bank robberies. As the gang came fleeing out of the first bank with several bags of money, the man panicked, causing the car to stall. Police arrived in minutes as the man desperately tried to get the car to start. In court, it was revealed that not only did the man not have a driver’s license, he had never operated a vehicle before.
Uh, Mexico is in America, in case you haven't noticed.
How wrong you are. I did mention I was from Florida, and I actually have Seminol Indian blood in me. So therefor, I'm about as American, or Native American as they come.
"It could only happen IN America" might suggest these things happen in America but who said they were committed by Americans? Only the weirdest things happen in the USA or Germany.
Other than I would submit that those of us living in the USA have a right to call our continent North America, and posters from Europe shouldn't presume we would agree with that... and vice versa.
http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blq...zcontinents.htm
Nobody said the USA was a continent. If you think your so smart you may want to reread the previous posts cause it wasn't there. The USA is a country that is called America for short. Americans are from America. There is a difference between North America and America. I have never once heard people from the USA to be referred to as United States of Americans.
well in spanish, its estadounidense (literally United-Statesian).
so... thats you told
its like stealing a car from some1 in gta then later the same citizen gets you out of the car
hell strange news!
rofl...just...wow
-Spenser
Who are the idiots smoking at a petrol station!
"
"It could only happen in America""
Oh - My - God!
Last edited by 27273 on 16 Oct 2005 - 19:45
Just wanted to def. say to Neowin staff that i like this new idea and hope it stays. I love reading new articles here and hate the fact that the weekends lack anything new, tech or otherwise.
Thanks,
Frazell
' People tend to steal cars. I give them credit.'
nobody knows....
My first instinct was that you means the president of America, in which case the answer to your question (since it was a question, not an answer), would be one of the following:
i) Stupid people.
ii) People now harbouring much regret.
Hell I know someone who doe stupid things, and denies it to the point she forgets she ever did it.
Some of you take life too seriously...hehe
Oh, and I was tought (England) that there's North America and South America. America to me is the US. Nothing else.
US or USA is United States or United States of America
US or USA is a Country, not a continent
North America is a continent
US or USA is part of North America
Mexico is not part of US or USA
New Mexico is part of US or USA
Mexico is part of North America
South America has nothing to do with US or USA or North America
God I hope that makes it clear. lol
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register,