Dozy fuel thieves light up the night

Published Aug 29, 2005

Share

Wellington, New Zealand - Three teenagers trying to steal fuel from a farm near here ended up setting fire to their own car.

They had siphoned diesel fuel into their petrol-driven vehicle which, of course, refused to start, so one of the world's dumbest thieves checked the fuel pipe - with a cigarette lighter.

One click, a boom and the car burst into flames.

"It wasn't a major whodunit," Senior Sergeant Ross Gilbert told Reuters from the small North Island town of Waipukurau, about 230km north-east of Wellington.

"Fortunately for them, there's no criminal charge for stupidity."

The youngsters escaped injury but were charged for stealing the diesel. - Reuters

Related Topics: