Inability To Drive A Stick Lands Stolen Car Suspect Behind Bars

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Authorities say a would-be car theft suspect failed the first rule of stealing: take a car you can drive.

The inability to drive a car with manual transmission and clutch led to a car theft suspect being taken into police custody.

Officials said the suspect was driving erratically about 4:50 a.m.  in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles when officers spotted him.

Authorities first saw the man near 18th Street and Westmoreland Avenue, according to Los Angeles police Sgt. J. Kevany of the Olympic station.

"Officers saw the guy driving a stick shift -- like he didn't know how to drive a stick shift," Kevany said. "He made eye contact with the officers and drove away."

The suspect eventually abandoned the vehicle. A perimeter was set up in the area and after three hours, the suspect was apprehended. No one was hurt.

Kevany had no description of the vehicle, other than its transmission.

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