Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Gene Kennedy ReportingIt began as a kind gesture, but the recipients took advantage and a Kearns man is lucky to be okay today.
The victim in our story was walking out of a Blockbuster video store near 4000 west and 6000 south last night when three teenagers walked up to him and asked for a ride. Many would have turned them down, but the young man agreed.
Sheriff's deputies say moments after the teens got into the man's car, they got aggressive. They didn't want a ride, they wanted the car and the man's money. Fortunately, the victim was able to jump out of the car and call police.
Lt. Chris Bertram, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "This is not the type of situation people should engage in. These are three unknown teenagers approaching him in a parking lot asking for a ride. It's just not a safe thing to do."
The suspects wound up ditching the car and a Taylorsville police officer found it a mile from the crime scene. Investigators staked it out to see if the suspects would come back. They never showed, so deputies returned the car with, amazingly, nothing stolen and nothing damaged.
The victim has only been able to give investigators a vague description of the suspects. Hopefully there's someone out there who has heard about the crime; deputies hope that person will come forward and provide a lead.
