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Samantha Hayes Reporting A stolen truck, a high-speed chase, then a violent crash. That used to mean a man was most likely behind the wheel. Not in this case though. In fact, crimes involving women are going off the charts, and police treat them just like the guys.
Police don't know why a woman stole a car today. They suspect drug addiction.That's often behind a surge in violent crimes committed by women, women who feel getting high is beyond anything else.
When we say a surge in crime we mean an astounding increase in the number of women not only in prison but also asking for help from places like the House of Hope.
It was clear to police the woman driving the stolen truck wanted more than anything to get away. But what was she thinking? And what was Sela Samani thinking when she allegedly pulled out a knife and stole a BMW, crashing into someone else when police tried to stop her?
Skyler Wayman, Crash Victim: "I'm glad they got her but it's terrible that it had to end this way."
It is also likely things will not end well for the latest Public Enemy Number One, Ineke Dennis. Gangs, forgery and drugs mark her rap sheet.
Brent Kelsey, Utah Division of Substance Abuse: "Drug use increases the likelihood the people will be involved in all kinds of offenses, from property crimes to violent crimes against people."
Six hundred woman are in prison in Utah. That's the highest number to date and increasing by twelve percent. The male population is increasing by three percent. The prison says the connection is women and substance abuse, specifically meth.
Karrie Mortensen, Recovering Drug Abuser: "I didn't care who I stole from. It didn't matter what store I was from. It didn't matter what neighbor, what friend or what family member."
And that explanation is something you would not have heard from Karrie Mortensen when she was committing crimes. It was just about getting the drugs.
Karrie Mortensen: "When I started using drugs I didn't look at other people as people. I looked at them as objects to meet my needs."
Angel Trujillo was also driven by desperation.
Angel Trujillo, Recovering Drug Abuser: "To rob people, to hurt people, do whatever I can to get high."
Those women and many more are trying to live a life without drugs and crime. In the last 15 years the number of women seeking drug abuse services has increased by 170 percent. For men that number has decreased by 5%.
