Tag Archives: crime

Driver Leaves Maserati Running in Times Square, Surprised When It Gets Stolen

Note to Maserati owners: If you don’t want your car stolen, don’t leave it unlocked with the engine running in the middle of Times Square.

Chadwick Lange was new to the city, just moving to Manhattan from Florida. According to his account of the events, he saw a friend of his around the intersection of 47th Street and Broadway, so he pulled over his 2008 Maserati Gran Turismo to say hello. He must not have planned on staying long because he left the keys in the ignition and the engine running.

Two strangers approached Lange and asked if they could take some pictures of his Maserati. He obliged and went back to the conversation with his friend. After the two strangers took a few pictures, one of them jumped into the front seat and drove off, slowing down only to let his friend jump in the passenger side further down the street.

So far, there has been no sign of the car or the two thieves, but it seems like this crime could have been prevented with a little common sense. Most people know not to leave a car unattended with the keys still in the ignition, much less a Maserati, but some have speculated that Lange wasn’t just pulling over for a chat. A fact that has gotten buried underneath the shocking stupidity is that Lange’s car was stolen at 4:30 in the morning. He just happened to be driving around at 4:30 in the morning and ran into his friend (*cough* DEALER *cough*), and he decided that he should stop for a chat (*cough* FIX *cough). Well, whatever reason Lange decided to pull over that day, whether for a fix or for a conversation, I hope it was really, really good.

Need a new car? Approved Loan Store wants to help you! Bad credit, no credit, car got stolen in Times Square, we want to get you into a new or used car at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Cops Catch California Craigslist Car Crook

Since the start of Craigslist, there have been horror stories of scam artists taking advantage of consumers looking for a good deal on an apartment, a stroller, or a car. It is impossible to know exactly what to expect when responding to a Craigslist ad. Sometimes, the poster is a perfectly normal human being who doesn’t want to pay to advertise their used furniture on another website. Other times, the poster is a predator looking for their next victim. Even with these warnings, though, people still use Craigslist in hopes of finding that one great deal, even when it comes to a major purchase like a car. If you needed another reason to stay away from Craigslist’s car ads, this story out of Belmont, CA will hopefully do the trick.

A family in Belmont responded to a Craigslist ad for a 2011 Nissan Altima. They wanted to be safe and make sure this ad was legitimate, so they met the seller Christopher John Prew in person to check out the car. Everything seemed to be in order, and they handed over a $500 cash deposit. From here, the deal started to seem fishy. Prew didn’t have the car title with him, and he agreed to meet the family later to hand over the title and receive the rest of the payment for the car. He left with the money, and the family called the police. As it turns out, the car didn’t belong to Prew at all. The Nissan Altima was a rental from Hertz.

Fortunately, Prew didn’t get away with it. The police set up a meeting with Prew, posing as another potential car buyer. When Prew showed up, he was taken into custody. He is being charged with one count of theft by false pretense, though the police believe that there might be other victims that have not yet come forward.

You don’t have to take a chance when car shopping. Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a new or used vehicle, even if you have poor credit or no credit! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Car Jacker Tries to Steal Car, Can’t Drive Stick

I have been driving ever since I could get my learner’s permit at 14, but in all my time driving, I have never learned how to drive stick shift. There might have been a chapter on it in my driver’s ed class textbook, but I have never needed to learn it.  As any new driver will tell you, driving takes a lot of practice, and stick shift is doubly difficult. For all these reasons, this story coming out of St. Louis, Missouri is just plain bizarre.

On Sunday, June 17, a driver parked in the Saint Louis University parking lot was threatened by an armed robber who demanded the money in the driver’s wallet as well as the car. The driver obliged, but the robber realized that the car was manual transmission. He had no idea how to drive the car, so stealing the car was no longer a viable option.

Now, here’s the kicker. The driver, who already gave the robber $24 out of his wallet, offered to give the robber a ride to wherever he needed to go. The robber agreed, and he even thanked the driver for his help in an awkward situation.

Obviously the police are investigating the incident and hope to find the robber, but honestly, I’m much more curious about the driver. What kind of person lets someone rob them at gun point and then offers to give their attacker a ride? They must be a kind of saint or Jesus Christ returned because this is “turn the other cheek” times ten. “If a man should rob you at gun point and demand your car and wallet, do not respond in kind. Instead, give him everything he asks and give him a ride if he is dumb enough to steal a car he can’t drive.”

Whether you are looking for a manual or automatic transmission, Approved Loan Store can help! We have a huge inventory of new and used vehicles and want to get you into the car you want at terms you can afford!  Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest from Approved Loan Store by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube.

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Auto Loan Approval-By-Phone: Why Approved Loan Store Doesn’t Do It

At Approved Loan Store, we get asked all the time why we can’t give car loan approvals over the phone and why our customers need to bring their driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of income, and other identification to their appointment. Yesterday, there was a perfect real-life example in Dedham, Massachusetts, and we would like to share it with our readers so they understand why approvals-by-phone simply don’t happen.

Arthur Roberts wanted to get a new car. His previous car had been repossessed, and he was looking to get a car loan. Rather than take less-than-favorable rates or a cheaper car, Roberts forged documents from Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office and a credit bureau claiming that he had been the victim of identity theft. As a result, he got approval for a $22,000 car loan.

It wasn’t long until the law caught up with Roberts. He was indicted last March, and yesterday, he pleaded guilty to one count of larceny by false pretenses and three counts of common law uttering. He was sentenced to two years in jail, but due to medical reasons, he was put on three-year probation. The conditions of his probation are that he has to report any purchases made over $3,000, provide his quarterly credit reports to his probation officer, and inform his probation officer if he applies for credit.

This is why approvals-by-phone do not happen. There is too much of a risk that criminals will submit other people’s personal information, claim that they earn a higher income than they really do, and commit fraud just to get a car. At Approved Loan Store, we set up appointments for our customers to meet with a Special Finance Representative so that we can verify all of your personal information. We do not and nor will we ever stand for illegal activities, and the best way we can prevent that is by insisting on approvals in-person and with the proper documentation.

Are you having trouble getting approved for a car loan? Approved Loan Store can help! Fill out our auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest news and consumer education by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook and following Approved Loan Store on Twitter.

Image: Victor Habbick / FreeDigitalPhotos.net