That car is Mine 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
Friday, July 19, 2002
Story last updated at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 19, 2002
Alleged car thief caught by vehicle he tried to steal
The Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - When a thief decided that Sandra Boutwell's 1994 Infiniti was a juicy target, he probably didn't expect that the car would put up a fight.
David Christopher Lander, 51, of Gainesville was arrested early Thursday morning after the car he was burglarizing locked him inside, Alachua County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Keith Faulk said.
The 1994 Infiniti is equipped with an anti-theft device that automatically locks the doors when the car alarm is triggered, Faulk said. When Lander entered the car, the doors locked.
"Had he pushed the button on the driver's side door, he could have gotten out," Faulk said.
When deputies arrived shortly after 2 a.m., they found Lander locked in the car.
"He was trying to hide, all scrunched down in the back seat," Faulk said. "I guess he thought deputies couldn't see him."
Deputies found in Landers' pockets a pendent valued at less than $50 and $3.21 in coins taken from the car. Lander was charged with one count of burglary of a conveyance and one count of theft.
In 19 years of law enforcement, Faulk said he has never seen anything this dumb.
"Not where the suspect was caught because of his own ignorance," Faulk said. "Maybe he needs a new line of work. He's not very good at what he's doing now."
Information from: The Gainesville Sun
Submitted on 07/19/2002
Submitted by:
Anonymous
Reference:
The Gainesville Sun 7/19/02
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