How Dumb! Stolen Car Found After New Yorker Blows Past Stop Sign

Breaking the law is dumb, but how this criminal got caught is even dumber.

A DEC Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) was recently conducting a routine traffic stop when he made an incredible discovery. The person he pulled over was guilty for much more than just a traffic violation.

David Lentz

What Happened?

The driver was originally caught speeding and running through a stop sign, leading the officer to flick on his lights and pull him over. After speaking with the driver, it was discovered he was driving with a suspended license.

Not only that, but Steuben County Dispatch told the officer the vehicle was actually reported stolen just moments earlier. After calling in a Steuben County Deputy for help, they took the driver into custody.

Credit - NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Break the Law - Pay the Price

After being further questioned by authorities, the driver admitted to stealing the car. He was then charged for the vehicle and his two other traffic violations. He's currently being processed for Grand Larceny at the County Steuben Sheriff's Office.

The best news? The car was quickly turned back to it's owner, who was extremely grateful for the drivers stupidity.

Felipe Caparr?s Cruz

The moral of the story... don't break the law. Luckily, "car-ma" played it's course for this criminal. But seriously, don't try to be Nicolas Cage in "Gone in 60 Seconds"... even the best car thieves get get caught.

16 Of New York State's Most Wanted Criminals- February 2023

Below are individuals wanted by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's (DOCCS) Office of Special Investigations who have been designated as its Most Wanted Fugitives. They should be considered armed and dangerous. This list is current as of 1/31/2023:

NEVER attempt to apprehend a fugitive yourself. If you have information on the location of any of these fugitives, you can contact OSI 24 hours a day / 7 days a week to report it. All leads and tips are treated as confidential information.

If an immediate response is necessary, such as you see the wanted person at a location, please call “911” and report it to the police.

11 of New York's Most Wanted Criminals with Upstate Connections

Below are individuals with ties to the Capital Region and Upstate New York. They have been designated as some of New York's Most Wanted Fugitives and should be considered ARMED and DANGEROUS.

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These 7 Prisons Are The Most Violent In New York State

New York released a report with the most recent number of violent assaults on inmates in state prisons. There were 134 inmate deaths noted in the report, although it doesn't break down the prisons where each death occurred or who caused them. Here's a look at some of the general violent incidents reported for 2020, which is the most recent data reported by the state. Compared to 10 years ago, inmate assaults have almost doubled. In 2011 there were 666 and in 2020 there were 1,205 reported. These numbers do not include inmate assaults on staff members. Overall, the number of unusual incidents includes things like assaults, deaths, accidents, sexual misconduct, and disruptive behavior. According to the state,

"The number of unusual incidents has increased 132% from 5,980 in 2011 to 13,870 in 2020. These higher incident numbers were largely due to increases in assaults on incarcerated individuals (+81%), assaults on staff (+86%), contraband (+130%), disruptive behavior (+372%), and staff use of weapons (+1,035%)."

In 2020, 1,836 weapons used to cut or stab, including ice picks, razor blades, can lids and shanks were discovered in state prisons around New York.