Jalopnik: Car Crime

Man Arrested For Fifth DUI Says He Was Drinking "All Day" At Chrysler Plant

Patrick Frawley — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST

Brian Ahlert, a 41-year-old worker at Chrysler's Belvidere assembly plant, faces drunk-driving charges after he was pulled over on the way home from what he claimed was a very liquid day on the job. More »

Study Claims Pot Doubles Crash Risk

Patrick Frawley — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:30:00 EST

Bad news for those inclined to toke and drive: A Canadian study shows that smoking pot within three hours of getting behind the wheel nearly doubles your chance of being involved in a car crash. More »

Road Rage Ends With Sledgehammer Assault

Raphael Orlove — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST

A conflict between two drivers cutting each other off on the highway ended with one man striking the other in the shoulder with a small sledgehammer. In other news, people are terrible. More »

Woman blames large breasts for failed field sobriety test

Tom Joslin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST

We don't support drunk driving or any attempts to get out of an arrest for doing so, but we have give one Florida woman credit for a creative on the spot excuse when she was pulled over last weekend for speeding and swerving through traffic. More »

German Cops Track 4.2 Million Cell Phone Connects, Find Zero Criminals

Raphael Orlove — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

In an effort to catch the arsonists responsible for thousands of burned cars in Germany's capital, and not just that one jealous guy from last year, Berlin police have monitered 4.2 million cell phone connections. They haven't caught a single arsonist. More »

Supreme Court Says Cops Can't GPS Track Your Car Without Warrant

Patrick Frawley — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST

The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that because of Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure, police must obtain a valid warrant before using a GPS device to track a suspect for an extended period of time. More »

This Couple Tried To Blow Up A Car With Tampons

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

A pair of Pennsylvanians got a little trashed one night earlier this month and attempted to beat the crap out of a Ford Fusion. When they realized their fists and feet could only do so much damage they then tried to blow up the car. With tampons. Sadly, it didn't work. More »

MegaUpload Founder Claims He's 'Evil,' 'Guilty,' And 'God' On His License Plates

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:50:00 EST

Sharing site MegaUpload was shut down by the feds earlier today and its founder Kim "Dotcom" Schmitz was arrested over allegations that his site hosted pirated media. Schmitz also had over $6 million in luxury cars seized. Cars with extremely conspicuous plates proclaiming him, among other things, a "God." Or "The" God. More »

This is what a Bentley Continental GT looks like after Russian vandals are done with it

Tom Joslin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

In Russia it seems like your expensive car may never truly be safe from vandals. This Bentley Continental GT received the spray can customization seen here during the day while parked in front of an insurance office. More »

Dubai Police Fines Drivers For Making Car Theft Too Easy

Patrick Frawley — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST

In an attempt to counter a surge in vehicle thefts, drivers in Dubai will face a fine of 300 Emirati Dirhams (about US$81) if police find their cars unattended with the engines running while parked. More »

Meet Barney, The Miracle Dog Rescued From Ocean After Tragic Crash

Patrick Frawley — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST

It's sometimes hard to see a bright side when something truly terrible happens, but for a bereaved Florida family the surprising return of their pet dog has helped ease the blow of a violent tragedy. More »

The Mysterious Case Of The Car That Stole Itself

Wes Siler — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST

Sleuthy detectives in rural Australia have declared "Case Closed" in the incident of a mysteriously disappearing car and a phantom garage break in. The culprit? The car itself. And it would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling kids. More »

Man Who Fled Police In 'General Lee' Charger Caught In Shower

Raphael Orlove — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST

Police clocked a "Dukes of Hazzard" style Dodge Charger at over 110 miles an hour in Houston, leading to a high speed chase at times topping 120 miles an hour. The chase didn't end at the side of the road, but in the suspect's apartment, with him hiding in the shower. More »

Woman Sues Ticketing Cop After He Stalked Her For A Date

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

A Chicago-area woman's suing a Stickney, Illinois police officer who used information he gathered from giving her a $132 citation to track her down and ask her out. It would maybe be cute except for it being the creepiest thing ever. More »

Parking Lot Argument Ends In Beige Body-Check

Patrick Frawley — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST

A spat between two women over a parking space at an upscale suburban Detroit mall turned physical on New Year's Eve, with a Camry driver attacking another woman after successfully slotting her Toyota into the contested spot. More »

North Carolina Woman Crashes Into Store For One Case Of Beer

Patrick Frawley — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

Kara Fitzgerald Overman of Burlington, NC, was arrested last Wednesday after she allegedly crashed her pickup truck into the front of the Deep Creek Convenience Store, grabbed a case of beer, and drove off. More »

Don't ask a cop for your weed back when you're pulled over

Raphael Orlove — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST

It was revealed in court that a 19-year old who claimed that a bag of marijuana found at his feet during a traffic stop wasn't his, asked the arresting officer at the time of the stop, "Can I have my weed back?" Yeah, that defense might not fly. More »

Cop fired for driving 143 mph while drunk wants job back

Patrick Frawley — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST

In a late bid for 2011's award for Most Brazen Act of Chutzpah, a Denver cop who was kicked off the force for doing 143 mph in a 55 zone while intoxicated is appealing his dismissal on grounds that the penalty was too harsh. More »

New Jersey cops destroy BMW searching for weed that wasn't there

Wes Siler — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

In what's being treated as a metaphor for the fruitlessness of the War on Drugs itself, New Jersey cops caused over $12,000 in damage to a BMW 325i, tearing it apart in search of marijuana. After tearing apart the dash, doors, seats and prying off exterior body panels, what'd they find? Nada. More »

Proof meth cooks run around in their undies like in Breaking Bad

Patrick Frawley — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST

Breaking Bad" alt="Click here to read Proof meth cooks run around in their undies like in Breaking Bad" src="http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/images/12/2011/12/small_e089c51cbbacde9fcb7c80e4c2bfda94.jpg"/>

The Blackman-Leoni Township Department of Public Safety is more than a little embarrassed after an under-dressed chemist took one of the Department's Chevy Tahoes on a scorchingly fast three-county Interstate run before colliding with traffic at a police blockade. More »

Drunk man gets DUI while trying to drive deer to hospital

Tom Joslin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

Nothing mixes well with drinking and driving—even poorly executed but well intentioned compassion for animals. 29-year-old Andrew Caswell didn't know what to do after he hit a deer with his car last week in Greene, NY. After an argument with his three passengers about what to do with the deer, Caswell decided to drive the deer to the hospital. More »

How GM saved a Chrysler 300 from car thieves

Patrick Frawley — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST

OnStar has played eye-in-the-sky for police chasing down stolen GM vehicles about 58,000 times since the system was introduced. But last week it helped do something it's never done before — it rescued a woman's Chrysler. Yup, carjackers who don't read Jalopnik are going to be so confused. More »

Further proof stick shifts stop car crime

Patrick Frawley — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:30:00 EST

More evidence that a manual transmission is not merely a means to greater car control and a better driving experience: Like a similar case late last month, a shift lever and clutch pedal have prevented yet another carjacking. More »

Watch two dogs bail after explosive end to Orlando police chase

Raphael Orlove — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST

Two dogs survived a high-speed collision after a fleeing robbery suspect in a Toyota Corolla plowed into traffic in an Orlando intersection. The ensuing multi-car pileup put five people in the hospital. The dogs, who bolted from their crumpled Jeep at the first opportunity, have been found. More »

Man uses dumbest bad-check scheme ever to buy a Maserati

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

Gabriel Matthews went to a dealership in Pennsylvania to buy a Maserati. He wrote two checks to cover the $60,616 price. Then the dealership called Matthews' bank and found out his account had been closed. Now he's on the run, charged with three crimes. Didn't quite think this one through, did we? More »

This ex-con stole his date's car... while they were at the movies!

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

Worst guy. Cops in Florida say a 27-year-old man stole his date's rental car while they were at the movies. During the movie, the man, Michael Pratt, told the woman he needed to get something in the car, a 2012 Ford Focus. He left, and never came back. More »

How America's used cars helped fund Middle East terrorism

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

Lebanese terrorist organization and sometimes political party Hezbollah used the purchase of used cars in America to traffic money between West Africa, the United States, Canada and Lebanon, according to a suit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. As much as $480 million was transferred in the scheme, going back to 2007. Here's how it worked. More »

Man shot at, tasered and pepper-sprayed at Corvette Museum over a song

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

A late night sorority-sponsored party at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky ended in gunfire when a man was willing to get shot, tasered and pepper-sprayed all for the right to play a song. Must have been one helluva song. More »

Watch an angry, Aussie cop bash a hoon's head in

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

An Australian police officer was found guilty for the brutal beating this past May of a 32-year-old man caught laying burnouts outside a police station. A police-car dashboard camera caught the beatdown, as the officer kicked the driver and smashed him with a baton. Watch the chilling video below. More »

Vet gets face broken on Pearl Harbor Day for vandalizing Japanese car

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:20:00 EST

Just when you thought no one was celebrating or remembering the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, there's this: a Navy veteran spray-painting "12-7 USN" on a Japanese car, like a racist jerk, and then two young men beating the crap out of him on camera, like roid-raging jerks. America! More »

Model Christian hits student, throws religious pamphlet, runs

Raphael Orlove — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST

In a heartwarming tale of practicing what you preach, a 58-year-old holy-rollin' woman ran into a high school student with her '96 Accord, then threw a Christian pamphlet at the kid before driving off. More »

Not only are manual transmissions awesome, they're a theft deterrent

Tom Joslin — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST

Although we know you didn't need another reason to continue seeking out the dwindling supply of cars with manual transmissions, we're giving you one anyways. A Florida man and woman still have their car because a pair of carjackers didn't know how to drive a stick. More »

If you took the $100,000 that fell out a truck, please return it

Raphael Orlove — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST

An estimated $100,000 fell out of a bank courier van in outer Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon when its doors accidentally opened up on the road. All but $400 is still missing. People of Pittsburgh, please give the money back, the bank misses it very much. More »

Watch a Lamborghini driver hit 206 mph on a public road

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST

Headed from Scottsdale, Arizona to Miami, Florida, this Bullrun rally driver stretches the legs on his Lamborghini LP640 out to its upper reaches — 206 mph. That's fast, even if it doesn't reach the Lambo public-road YouTube record (which stands at 219 mph). More »

Why did this crazy man smash up 15 cars at a Mazda dealership?

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST

The man was visibly drunk as he stumbled into the car lot more than three hours past midnight. He took a call on his cell phone, then became enraged. The dealership's security cameras caught every idiotic minute of what happened next. More »

Pedobear Miata owner seeks forgiveness

Patrick Frawley — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST

The owner of this pedobear-garnished Mazda Miata earned the online Miata community's deep scorn after driving it under an eighteen-wheeler's trailer. Now, after months of being shunned, he's looking to be let back into the fold. More »

Handcuffed woman gives handcuffed man a blow job in back of cop car

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST

Tina Marie Arie was hanging out at a Whataburger in Porter, Texas on Monday, watching while one male friend tried to revive another friend by slapping him around. Then the cops arrived. Then it got weird. More »

A man in a coonskin cap is a great eyewitness

Patrick Frawley — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST

A police chase in Florida's Panhandle region has resulted in one of the more surreal eyewitness report interpretive dances recently caught on tape, complete with deadpan intro, male-model-grade stubble, and an honest-to-God coonskin cap. More »

Proof a fire hydrant can lift a car into the air

Raphael Orlove — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST

The driver of a presumed-stolen Toyota Camry lost control and careened into a fire hydrant in San Diego earlier this month, releasing enough water to hold the car aloft for over an hour. More »

How the Internet got my stolen bike back

Matt O'Rourke — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Last year we did a story about a man posting on Craigslist about his bloodlust for the person who stole his bicycle. That man was Matt O'Rourke and, 18 months later, the bike is back. Here's O'Rourke's hilarious explanation of how we helped get his stolen bike back. — Ed. More »