Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Robbery suspect locks keys in car [Hapless Hood Alert]
The Times (N.W. Indiana) ^ | 12-24-2004 | JUSTIN POST

Posted on 12/24/2004 1:03:46 PM PST by Prince Charles

Robbery suspect locks keys in car

LAKE STATION: Man arrested after pursuit

BY JUSTIN POST

jpost@nwitimes.com

219.662.5325

This story ran on nwitimes.com on Friday, December 24, 2004 12:10 AM CST

LAKE STATION | Police described a 26-year-old Gary man as the "world's dumbest criminal" after he locked his keys in the car while allegedly robbing a city convenient store across the street from the police department.

Dan L. Griggs, of Monroe Street in Gary, allegedly stole three cartons of cigarettes at 1 a.m. Thursday from Dno One Stop, at 3600 Central Avenue, and returned to his vehicle to find the doors locked, said police Lt. Mike Stills.

The man told a clerk, who followed him out of the store, that it was just a joke and that he didn't intend to steal the cigarettes. The clerk called police, however.

Police said Griggs returned to the store, ripped out the telephone cord and demanded money. He opened the lottery machine and took approximately $50, according to court documents filed Thursday in Lake County Superior Court.

The man left the store and returned a third time when he threatened a customer and left with a broom, Stills said.

Dispatchers watched from the police station minutes later as Griggs used the broom to smash out a vehicle window, Stills said.

An officer arrived as Griggs was driving away from the store, he said. Griggs led police on a chase North on Ripley Street and Gary police were asked to assist with the call, police said.

The snowy chase continued onto Interstate 80/94 and ended when the man exited the interstate back onto Ripley Street, struck an oncoming police cruiser and bailed out of the vehicle.

An officer slipped and injured his shoulder during the foot chase. Stills said Griggs was unable to cross a ditch and was arrested by officers who had their guns drawn.

"Unfortunately for him, that was the end of the line," Stills said.

Police recovered money, lottery tickets and three cartons of cigarettes that Griggs allegedly took from the store, he said. The clerk later identified Griggs in a photo lineup.

Griggs was charged with a felony count of robbery and was being held without bond.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dumbcriminal; garyindiana; leo; lockout; oops
Three cheers for the coppers who caught 'im!
1 posted on 12/24/2004 1:03:46 PM PST by Prince Charles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Prince Charles

I remember him. Griggs used to work for the CIA. He was in charge of counter-intelligence disinformation.


2 posted on 12/24/2004 1:16:37 PM PST by Shisan (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prince Charles
We had a guy in my town try to hold up a bank one morning. He was wearing a field jacket with his friggin' name on it. The teller did not take him seriously and told him to pack sand; after which he stormed out out of the bank in a huff. He went across the street to get a cup of coffee at the McDonalds. The teller promptly told her boss who called the police. They went across the street and arrested the guy for attempted bank robbery. Apparently since he did not get any money out of the deal he figured no laws had been broken. Guess he figured wrong. This one made the TV, we're so proud!

And tonights winner of the universe's stupidest criminal alive goes to..........
3 posted on 12/24/2004 1:17:07 PM PST by stm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prince Charles

The clerk later identified Griggs in a photo lineup.

Is it true that they had everybody in the lineup holding a broom in one hand and a lottery ticket in the other?


4 posted on 12/24/2004 1:43:43 PM PST by taxesareforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prince Charles
Dispatchers watched from the police station minutes later as Griggs used the broom to smash out a vehicle window, Stills said.

Wait a minute, he did this within sight of the police station? Way to go, Dan.

5 posted on 12/24/2004 1:56:34 PM PST by savedbygrace ("No Monday morning quarterback has never led a team to victory" GW Bush)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: savedbygrace
Wait a minute, he did this within sight of the police station? Way to go, Dan.

Not only that, despite their proximity, it took the donut-munchers quite a while to arrive at the scene.

He was able to go back into the store twice more, "open the lottery machine", steal a broom, and break out his car window.

If the clerk had been in possesion of an EVIL gun, this guy would have been removed from the very shallow end of the gene pool.

6 posted on 12/24/2004 2:57:58 PM PST by CurlyDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mhking

Ping


7 posted on 12/24/2004 2:59:47 PM PST by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prince Charles
"An officer slipped and injured his shoulder during the foot chase. "
Can he be held also for the injured officer?
8 posted on 12/24/2004 3:04:27 PM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (I went to school for 20 years, well I went to the 10th grade twice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Howlin; Ed_NYC; MonroeDNA; widgysoft; Springman; Timesink; dubyaismypresident; Grani; coug97; ...
This was close enough to where I grew up, and where both my folks and grandfather live that I know exactly where this police station and convenience store are...

And as small as Lake Station is, this guy had to be "pure-D-stupid"....

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

9 posted on 12/24/2004 4:56:30 PM PST by mhking
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prince Charles

"Stills said Griggs was unable to cross a ditch and was arrested by officers who had their guns drawn. "

Why did the cops have their guns drawn? There was no danger to their lives. Sounds like a case of very, excessive police action. I thought you could not use a gun unless you were defending yourself against deadly force? The police needs to be sued for this. John Q. Citizen would have been arrested if he had done this!


10 posted on 12/24/2004 6:42:53 PM PST by rawhide
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Prince Charles

This guy is so dumb I'm surprised that he didn't go back into the store to call the auto club to come unlock his car.


11 posted on 12/24/2004 6:53:08 PM PST by redheadtoo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson