Photo: Screenshot form KLTV
If you’re going to attempt to steal a vehicle, it’s probably not a good idea to leave your personal data just seconds before to somebody who might identify you. We don’t know, we might be wrong, but that’s what we think.
Here to contradict us is Courtney Cordell Wheat, a 30-year-old man who was arrested in Longview, Texas, after stealing a rather sweet Datsun 280ZX. When he left home that morning, he was filled with good intentions. He went to a Taco Bueno restaurant in Kilgore and left a job application. He wanted to work.
But as he left the restaurant, he was presented with an intriguing sight. A blue Datsun 280ZX was sitting right in front of the door, keys in, engine running, the whole package. For a moment, he must have thought he was already hired and the restaurant also gave him a courtesy car, because Mr. Wheat didn’t think twice and jumped straight into the vehicle.
The car’s rightful owner is called Brandon Jones. He was the man Courtney had passed by as he was exiting the restaurant while Brandon was going in. It appears the restaurant staff forgot to put his son’s meal in his order, so he figured he’d just be in and out. Courtney, on the other hand, the moment he saw the car, only thought about being in.
Brandon says he caught the car dipping with the corner of his eye and knew somebody had gotten in. He ran outside and pounded the window, but Courtney was enjoying his new ride too much, so he took off.
You can imagine how dumbfounded the staff was when they realized that the man who had just handed them over all his personal details stole a car a few feet away from the restaurant’s entrance. And you can also imagine how glad the police was to be handed on a plate everything there was to know about the perpetrator.
It was the Longview police who found the Datsun at the Budget Inn on Highway 80, and Courtney together with it, KLTV revealed. He is now under custody. Since the car was running when he got in, he can only be accused of unauthorized use of a vehicle, and not grand theft auto, so the maximum penalty for that is two years in prison. But that’s two years more than he needs if he ever wants to be able to apply for a job and actually stand a chance.
But as he left the restaurant, he was presented with an intriguing sight. A blue Datsun 280ZX was sitting right in front of the door, keys in, engine running, the whole package. For a moment, he must have thought he was already hired and the restaurant also gave him a courtesy car, because Mr. Wheat didn’t think twice and jumped straight into the vehicle.
The car’s rightful owner is called Brandon Jones. He was the man Courtney had passed by as he was exiting the restaurant while Brandon was going in. It appears the restaurant staff forgot to put his son’s meal in his order, so he figured he’d just be in and out. Courtney, on the other hand, the moment he saw the car, only thought about being in.
Brandon says he caught the car dipping with the corner of his eye and knew somebody had gotten in. He ran outside and pounded the window, but Courtney was enjoying his new ride too much, so he took off.
You can imagine how dumbfounded the staff was when they realized that the man who had just handed them over all his personal details stole a car a few feet away from the restaurant’s entrance. And you can also imagine how glad the police was to be handed on a plate everything there was to know about the perpetrator.
It was the Longview police who found the Datsun at the Budget Inn on Highway 80, and Courtney together with it, KLTV revealed. He is now under custody. Since the car was running when he got in, he can only be accused of unauthorized use of a vehicle, and not grand theft auto, so the maximum penalty for that is two years in prison. But that’s two years more than he needs if he ever wants to be able to apply for a job and actually stand a chance.
Google News