Delaware man steals his own truck

Donald Smith II, 30, stole his own truck from a repair shop in New Castle Delaware. The truck was in the shop for repairs.

At 12:30 in the morning the Delaware State Police were called to the repair shop after the theft was reported. The owner told police that a section of fence had been torn down and a 1999 Chevrolet Siverado pickup truck was gone.

A surveillance video at the site showed that a front-end loader complete with forklifts had driven down one side of the property and then out of view. Later the loader appears again carrying the pick up truck in its forks.

After the repair shop owner left a message with Smith to inform him that his truck was gone he later received a return call from Smith who told the repair shop owner that he had retrieved his truck.

At 1:15 in the morning police received a call that a person was operating a front end loader in the parking lot of a local restaurant and tavern. The loader entered a heavily wooded area. When it was located, the loader again evaded police. However, the loader finally drove into a retention pond bringing to an end a 35 minute chase!

Smith actually had to swim to shore where he was taken into custody. Smith faces numerous charges including criminal mischief, trespassing, and several traffic violations. After posting $5,750 dollars bail he was released. He probably will not need his truck for a while. For more see this article.