Tools

Parked Car Thwarts Downtown Des Moines Robbery

By Becky Ogann

DES MOINES (AP) - A robbery was prevented Thursday by an unusual crime-fighting tool - a parked car.

Karla Gierstors of West Des Moines was walking in downtown Des Moines about 6:15 a.m. Thursday when a man threatened her with a box cutter and grabbed her purse.

A passing motorist stopped to help, and as the robber looked back at the victim he slammed into the car, dropping the purse and box cutter. He then ran away.

Nothing was missing from the purse, but the side and trunk area of the car were damaged.

Friday, May 16 at 7:14 AM funny wrote ...

what a dufus

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Thursday, May 15 at 2:39 PM Whisky_NW wrote ...

I'm glad this woman got her belongings back, but a description of the thief would be good too. Just because he failed doesn't mean he the police shouldn't look for him and punish him if they find him.

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Thursday, May 15 at 2:24 PM Ha Ha Ha wrote ...

Guess he wanted to make sure she knew what he looked like, duh

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Thursday, May 15 at 2:01 PM hey there wrote ...

mark that one down in the books bloopers of dumb criminals... lol

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