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'Bright spark' thieves destroy car
news.com.au ^ | 29 August 2005

Posted on 08/28/2005 11:47:43 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher

THREE men trying to steal fuel from a New Zealand farm today ended up setting fire to their own car.

Police said the trio had siphoned diesel into a petrol-driven vehicle. When their car would not start, they examined the fuel pipe using a cigarette lighter. One click, a boom and the car burst into flames.

"It wasn't a major whodunit," senior sergeant Ross Gilbert told Reuters, from the small North Island town of Waipukurau, about 230km northeast of Wellington.

"Fortunately for them, there is no criminal charge for stupidity."

The men, aged 18 to 19, escaped injury but were charged with theft.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: baaaaa; kiwis; newzealand; sheep
Ever wondered why New Zealand has a Labour Government...?
1 posted on 08/28/2005 11:47:46 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
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To: Aussie Dasher

Too bad there was no Darwin award.


2 posted on 08/28/2005 11:54:19 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative (France is an example of retrograde chordate evolution.)
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To: Aussie Dasher

Those two are going to be voters very soon. Lots of other voters just like them.


3 posted on 08/28/2005 11:59:33 PM PDT by Iris7 ("A pig's gotta fly." - Porco Rosso)
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To: Aussie Dasher
Somebody check this on snopes.com.

I've heard of this stupid act too many times for it not to be a hoax.

4 posted on 08/29/2005 12:19:17 AM PDT by benjaminjjones
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To: benjaminjjones

I agree -- this is likely a hoax. Fumes near a fuel tank pipe outlet, if ignited, will not cause a vehicle to burst into flames.

This is especially true if we're talking about diesel fuel.

Where's our famous FR BS meter when u need it lol


5 posted on 08/29/2005 3:55:45 AM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitor)
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