Not So Lucky This Time 


So there I was….


Dispatched to a motor vehicle theft in which the vehicle was parked in front of
7-11, running, unlocked, and unattended.  Seriously, didn’t I JUST write about how
much I hate it when people do that?  I guess I’ll have to publish this into a book
so the next generation wizens up a little (ok, perhaps not, but maybe they’ll buy my
book!).


Anyway, the stolen vehicle was described as a white Ford F-150 pick-up.  The owner
caught a ride from some passersby and started chasing his own truck down Delta
Drive.  Usually when I talk to people like that I lecture them about the dangers of
taking on bad guys, but inwardly I applaud them.  After all, I firmly believe that
the only way to defeat evil is to seek it out and destroy it.  Regardless, though,
his truck got away.


As I was nearing the area, my dispatcher informed me of this little ad hoc car
chase, and described the victim’s new ride as a “dark in color SUV.”  
Well, what do you know, I saw a dark in color SUV pull into a church parking lot,
turn around, and start to head toward a white pick-up that was going the other
direction.  I was faster to the punch, though, and got in behind the truck.


Remember from my last story I don’t want to pull a stolen vehicle over all by myself
in case the dirtbags want a gun battle.  So, I had two other cops driving reckless
abandon down Academy Blvd. to meet up with us ­ THEN we’d light the truck up and
arrest the dirtbags (remember, this tactic means the good guys have more firepower
aimed at the dirtbags, and they are also less likely to run).


Just like last time, though, the driver didn’t want to wait for my cover to arrive.
He pulled into a shopping center (this was 0430 so no one was around), and stopped
in front of a store.  I figured the occupants, which I couldn’t see, were going to
bail out and run, so I initiated the high risk stop right there.  The cavalry was
blazing down Academy at that point at over 100 mph.


Just then the driver got out and I recognized him.  He had his white Ford F-150
stolen about two weeks ago when he ­ yep, you guessed it ­ left it parked and
unattended in front of Wal-Mart.  He was one of the lucky few whose vehicle I
recovered within a few minutes.  So, from having dealt with him before I knew that I
had stopped the wrong white Ford F-150.  Doh.  He was out delivering papers.  Ol’
Frank, the driver, just about had a heart attack when he found himself staring down
my gun barrel, too.


Remember the dark in color SUV that was following?  He pulled in behind me to tell
me I’d gotten the wrong one.


So, for right now it seems that a stolen vehicle will remain at large ­ at least for
the time being.  Doom on me.