Jalopnik: alligator

Alligator Fights Off Woman For First Chomp At Toyota Test Drive

The Auto Insider — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:00:00 EDT

All Denise Anderson wanted to do was test drive a used Toyota Sequoia at her local Tampa Bay, Florida dealership. Unfortunately, a nine-foot alligator beat her there. Chomp, chomp!

The closer-to-big-toothed-nature-than-we're-comfortable-with incident occurred at Sun Toyota in Pasco County on Wednesday and turned into quite the event, drawing a multitude of people into the dealership's lot. Talk about free advertising.

Michael Chaparro, one of the dealership's salesmen, said that the gator likely came from one of the canals directly behind the property. Since it was mating season, the gator was probably looking for love. Yah hear that? The gator wanted to get down and dragon the helpless Toyota. Take a peak at the video to see what all the commotion was about. [via tampabay]

Burglary Suspect Caught With Six Foot Alligator Copilot

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Though our love for Texas knows no end, the state certainly has its share of people who have more balls than common sense. Take Mr. William Johnson, the Thomas Crown of Brazoria, Texas. On the way to burgling a house he came across a wild American Alligator and thought it would be a good idea to wrestle it and put it in the back of his Buick Regal. After arriving at the house he found he had trouble moving a big screen television by himself and recruited a neighbor. The neighbor was willing to rob his other neighbor but relented when he saw the gator, saying "Alright, I ain't got nothing to do with it."

The alligator turned out to be an awful lookout as state troopers managed to find the would-be thief fairly easily, hauling one off to jail and the other off to a preserve. To make things more interesting, they also found Johnson with a nearly five-foot water moccasin. Though he had a snakebite, it didn't seem to bother him. This story makes us a little homesick. [KTRK-TV]

Car Thief Eaten By Alligator

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST

This horrific story illustrates why you should never try to run from the police and never break into cars. A couple of guys were busting into autos at the Miccosukee Resort and Gaming facility in Florida. When the cops arrived they made a run for it. The lucky one got arrested. The unlucky one was dinner for a 9-foot alligator named "Poncho." So let this be a lesson to any would-be car thieves out there: IF YOU ROB CARS AN ALLIGATOR WILL EAT YOU. WILL EAT YOU DEAD. [AP via WPLG]