Northpinellas: Car hot-wiring caper fails, by the book

Car hot-wiring caper fails, by the book

Officials say that with a survival manual as their guide, 3 teens tried to hot-wire cars at an apartment complex.

By CHRIS TISCH

LARGO -- The book called The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook tells readers how to get out of some sticky situations, whether it's surviving a parachute that doesn't open, getting out of the grip of an alligator or digging out of an avalanche.

The book also tells readers how to hot-wire a car in case they lose their keys in the woods and have no way of getting home.

But with no school Friday, a group of Largo teens decided to stay out late Thursday and put the book to criminal use.

Using the book as a manual, they tried to hot-wire several cars at Autumn Chase Apartments, 2200 Gladys St.

But their plan was foiled about 2:45 a.m., when a police officer spotted them. The teens ran away, but officers caught one and later identified the other two. Police also found the book in their possession.

"They were reading the manual when they were caught," said Largo police Lt. Michelle Smith.

The first teen, a 15-year-old boy, has been charged with possession of burglary tools and loitering and prowling. The other two have not yet been charged, Largo police said.

The kicker: The book apparently did the boys no good, as they failed to hot-wire one of the several cars they tried.

"Even with the book, they were still unsuccessful," said Detective William Magnuson, who investigated the case.

Magnuson said he talked with the other two teens Friday. He said they were experimenting and didn't intend to actually steal a car. He said they appeared to be good kids. Police did not release their names.

"They're not career criminals," Magnuson said. "School was out today, so they were roaming around last night."

Officer Michael Stephenson saw the three boys hiding behind a trash bin on the south side of the apartment complex. The boys ran, and Stephenson chased them. When the 15-year-old was caught, he was wearing latex gloves and was carring a flashlight, police said.

Magnuson, who has investigated auto theft for about seven years, said he never has seen a case in which the suspects were using a manual to hot-wire a car.

"Their parents weren't real happy," the detective said.