One for the good guys, car thief gets caught by owner Options

[Rob Hood]

http://www.komotv.com/news/5277881.html

Here's the article in case the link doesn't work:

LAKE STEVENS, Wash. - A good Samaritan who stopped to help a car accident victim was nearly punished for his good deed when that accident victim tried to run off with his truck. But it turned out, the car thief had picked the wrong guy.

Clint Lucas of Lake Stevens was driving in Bothell when he saw a car spin out of control and crash into a ditch.

He stopped to see if everyone was OK. But that's when the driver got out and jumped in Clint's new $40,000 Ford truck.

In an instant, Lucas decided no one was going to steal his truck.

"You know I work really hard for the stuff I have," he said. "And I wasn't going to stand by and watch my brand new truck get stolen for no reason. I was trying to help the guy and that's how he repaid me."

So he ran after it and jumped in the back bed.

"And I didn't know how to get him to stop. So my reaction was to kick in the back window," he said.

Lucas, a construction project manager, used his steel-toed boots to break the window while the runaway driver swerved back and forth to try and knock him out of the truck.

"I had some construction plans in the back and I tried to get him to stop by hitting him with them through the back window," he said.

As speeds reached 70 miles per hour, Lucas grabbed a trowel from a bucket of cement and started clubbing the truck thief.

"I think that scared him more than anything, so he stopped the truck at that point," Lucas said.

The frightened driver started running on foot with Lucas right on his heels.

"I ran over and I tackled him to the ground and made sure I had him subdued, while a couple other gentlemen helped me get some zip ties on him," he said.

Lucas and two witnesses zip-tied the suspect and held him until cops arrived.

The truck is now in the shop and Lucas has a message for the man who tried to steal it.

"Don't take a guy's Ford pickup again," he said, "you don't know what's going to happen."

It turns out the runaway driver was wanted on arrested warrants and parole violations. He is in police custody.

[trackbird]

He's lucky the guy didn't actually manage to kill him (the owner kill the thief) when hitting him with a trowel. I'd have probably grabbed him by the neck from behind when I got in the cab and attempted to seperate his head from his neck for trying to shake me out of the bed of my own truck..... I'll give the guy credit, I'd have probably wanted to hurt him by then.

People are unreal. Guess he can add one to the list of warrants/charges.

[TOO Z MAXX]

If I was in that situation, he would have been waiting for an ambulance, coroner, not the police. I hate theives.

[Absolut Speed]

Sounds like they're both lucky they're not dead one way or the other.

[jensend]

While I am very attached to my car/truck, it isn't worth my life to try to keep some probably desperate/unstable person from taking it. The idea of putting my safety and those in other cars at unneeded risk for a machine is just irrational. The guy could have been thrown from his own truck and killed, the assaulted thief could have crashed the truck injuring himself, the owner, and possibly other innocent people. Lastly, knowing the way the law works (at least in NJ), the thief may dig up a lawyer slick enough to sue the owner for assault based on his use of a potentailly deadly instrument to subdue the thief.

I'm not one to accept the role of victim willingly, but I also reserve the right to choose the situational response based on the actual level of danger to myself. Protecting one's vehicle is a valid notion, but not at the potential price of one's life. If someone steals my kids' car, I want them to let the thief get away as qiuckly and as far away as possible. We have insurance. Also, considering that this thief had outstanding warrants, it is fortunate that he didn't have a gun or simply slam the brakes on and splatter the owner against the cab. Too much risk here for whatever possible reward there might be in thwarting the thief. JMO.

[killer_bluebird]

I agree with Jensend

Lastly, knowing the way the law works (at least in NJ), the thief may dig up a lawyer slick enough to sue the owner for assault based on his use of a potentailly deadly instrument to subdue the thief.

But if the thief decides to follow this course, the owner can say "the Ford commercials made me do it". I mean can't get much bolder than that. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[trackbird]

I probably wouldn't have jumped in the back of the truck. But that's a whole different discussion.

[SSTAT]

"The idea of putting my safety and those in other cars at unneeded risk for a machine is just irrational."

I think you miss the point. While the guy jokes about the thief taking his truck, the man did what he did because it was the right thing to do. Keep in mind this guy ALREADY put innocent people at risk wrecking his car in this accident, who knows how many other people he put at risk in his past crimes. Putting yourself in danger for the sake of society is not irrational. I performed an almost identical act as this guy, I restrained the guy until the police arrived and later discovered that after he was released from jail he shot a cop. If I hadnt restained him that night, maybe he would have shot a cop or innocent people during his escape that night. If you are brave enough, we all have to pitch in.

This post has been edited by SSTAT: Jan 23 2007, 02:29 AM

[Project84]

I think what the victim did was awesome. If someone tried stealing my car, I know I'm a little on the "unstable" side of the equation already, and I'd likely do the same thing this man did, hell I might even take it a step further if that's possible.

[marka]

Howdy,

If the guy wants to put himself in danger like that to protect an object, that's up to him and I'm glad it turned out ok instead of the guy getting killed or a busload of children and nuns getting broadsided while they fought for control of the vehicle. I'm particularly glad the thief didn't get away.

Its probably not something I'd have chosen to do though. It seems like a rather extreme risk to take. Of course, that's easy to say here at my desk and not in the heat of the moment. Who knows, if the guy had had more time to think about it, he might not have done it either.

Mark

[Rob Hood]

Howdy,

If the guy wants to put himself in danger like that to protect an object, that's up to him and I'm glad it turned out ok instead of the guy getting killed or a busload of children and nuns getting broadsided while they fought for control of the vehicle. I'm particularly glad the thief didn't get away.

Its probably not something I'd have chosen to do though. It seems like a rather extreme risk to take. Of course, that's easy to say here at my desk and not in the heat of the moment. Who knows, if the guy had had more time to think about it, he might not have done it either.

Mark

Yeah, it's definitely a "heat of the moment" decision. However, the crimes keep occuring, and if more people took a proactive stance towards protecting their property I really think the crime rates would drop. How much I don't know. And by "proactive stance" I mean voting for tougher sentences, stiffer fines, etc., in addition to standing up to the criminal if the situation presents itself.

Look at it this way - if the statistics were released and showed one town had no gun owners, and another town was full of them, which town would the criminal choose to target? It's really time that the law started benefitting law-abiding citizens, not law-breaking ones.

I'm not venting at you Mark, it's just that I've had a car stolen once and been vandalized three times. I'm upset at the system not doing right by those who understand right from wrong. Sorry if it appears I got on a soapbox...(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[marka]

Howdy,

Look at it this way - if the statistics were released and showed one town had no gun owners, and another town was full of them, which town would the criminal choose to target? It's really time that the law started benefitting law-abiding citizens, not law-breaking ones.

OOo! OOO! I know!

Its a trick question. The thief would target the one that had the stuff they wanted to steal.

Mark

(dude, I'm the _wrong_ person to try to get to agree that "taking law into your own hands" helps in the long run)

[Rob Hood]

Yeah, I keep forgetting we have lots of people on this board who have hired "Smith & Wesson" (or others) for their personal protection... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[trackbird]

Yeah, I keep forgetting we have lots of people on this board who have hired "Smith & Wesson" (or others) for their personal protection... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Maybe so, but Mark really isn't one of them.....

[K Shaw]

I carry and have my CWP.

Little info. Every city that has allowed a CWP permitt (concealed weapon permitt) has seen a large DECREASE in violent crime. So actually that criminal will stay away from the town that lets its citizens carry fire arms.

Denvers violent crime is at a ll time low just a year after they started allowing CWP.


good for the guy that got his truck back. I would be more concerned about inocent nuns and children being killed if there was a high speed chase involving the police.

kyle

[trackbird]

I carry and have my CWP.

Kyle,

You're not alone here..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[robz71lm7]

Howdy,

Look at it this way - if the statistics were released and showed one town had no gun owners, and another town was full of them, which town would the criminal choose to target? It's really time that the law started benefitting law-abiding citizens, not law-breaking ones.

OOo! OOO! I know!

Its a trick question. The thief would target the one that had the stuff they wanted to steal.

Mark

(dude, I'm the _wrong_ person to try to get to agree that "taking law into your own hands" helps in the long run)

Ooooh oooh! But who does the sociopath or rapist target? (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Besides my weapons are in a real safe, not an RSC (residential security container), which means they are better protected against theft than most people's tools and cars on here.

I'm just messing with you Mark. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I really don't want to relive the other thread-at least not on Kevin's board. Send me a PM if you want to tell me to F off.

That being said the truck owner is nuts. I'd gladly let them go with my truck, car or other worldly possessions and keep my life and others. I think we all can agree on that one.

[trackbird]

I'm just messing with you Mark. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I really don't want to relive the other thread-at least not on Kevin's board. Send me a PM if you want to tell me to F off.

Phew...that's good news. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)