Grand Theft-Auto
GRAND THEFT-AUTO
Dave Rhodin
Back in 1966 we had new Ford sedans that came with a security screen separating the front seat from the back. One day when coming back to the station with my partner George Hunter we heard an urgent cry over the radio from Salinas Station to get a Sector pilot there as soon as possible. Back then we all had the habit to leave the vehicle keys on the floor under the front seat when the Wets were spooked and had taken off. This was to enable the first officer back to drive and pick up their partner and any apprehended aliens they caught. We as a general policy would handcuff the wets and leave them in the back seat, while we went after the others who had scattered. The Officers involved had one in the back seat and were out in the brush looking for the others.
Seemed the screen on the cars were not that secure. The illegal in the back seat was able to bend the screen and crawl to the front seat, get the keys and steal the patrol car, thus the call for an airplane. The pilot was able to find the vehicle at a Contract Labor Housing area and the vehicle was recovered. The only damage was the security screen. The next morning when going out to start another day, Salinas called in a negative apprehension report. My partner George immediately picked up the radio and off the repeater was heard throughout the Sector as he said, "I thought you guys had one in the car yesterday". Silence ensued from Salinas but the rest of he Sector had a good laugh. Needless to say the security screens were all re-inforced by the Service on all sedans.
Dave Rhodin
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