Car Theft Accidentally Turns Into a Kidnapping When Thief Finds Someone Asleep in the Stolen Car
Stealing ar car is pretty lame, but stealing people is exponentially lamer. Unfortunately for this car thief, he learned this lesson the hard way. A man in Ohio jacked a 2012 Audi A4 from a dealership, which on its own isn’t all that unheard of. However, he did it in broad daylight and accidentally bit off a little more than he could chew.
2012 Audi A4 car theft at dealership turns into a kidnapping
CarScoops reports that the incident occurred around 1:00 PM last Saturday as Kharisma Guajardo and Raylon Scott brought their 2012 Audi A4 to Taylor Hyundai to trade it in. The Findlay Police department says, as 19-year-old Scott was asleep in the used Audi, 32-year-old Justin Vaughn allegedly helped himself to the driver’s seat and stole the Audi in broad daylight.
Thankfully, Guajardo could track the Audi, giving the police a play-by-play of how they could find the stolen car. Amid this accidental kidnapping, Scott woke up and started texting Guajardo with the car’s location as well as details about Vaughn’s “threatening behaviors.”
That’s one hell of a nap
Scott must be a heavy sleeper. After local police departments were alerted, Tiffin Police Chief David Pauly revealed his officers spotted the vehicle at 1:26 PM. Authorities attempted a traffic stop but police report Vaughn “failed to comply.” This caused the police to begin a pursuit. The chase was eventually ended when Tiffin officers performed a “slow-speed vehicle termination maneuver.”
Vaughn’s seemingly simple and alleged crime of stealing a used 2012 model Audi A4 quickly turned into a bit more of a serious assortment of crimes. With Vaughn in police custody, he is charged with aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and motor vehicle theft. Although the Findlay Police Department hasn’t publicly mentioned it, Pauly said Vaughn is also charged with fleeing and eluding police.
Scott only suffered minor injuries, which were quickly treated on-site without further need of medical attention.
Is car theft on the rise?
Since the Pandemic began, car thefts have risen dramatically across many states. According to Forbes, “Auto thefts saw a dramatic increase in 2020 versus 2019 in part due to the pandemic, an economic downturn, law enforcement realignment, depleted social and schooling programs, and, in still too many cases, owner complacency,” says David Glawe, president, and CEO of the NICB.
Colorado has seen the sharpest rise in car thefts of any state in the Union from 2019 to 2020. In Colorado, 29,162 thefts were reported in 2020 and 21,299 registered in 2019—that represents a staggering 37 percent increase. However, California still leads the U.S. in overall auto theft, with 187,094 vehicles stolen during 2020.
Stay frosty, dear reader. As car prices continue to increase due to demand and supply issues, car thefts are unlikely to slow down. Make sure to take the basic steps to keep your car (or yourself) from being stolen. Simply locking your doors can go a long way.
