Blake Bills and Shayna Sykes during happier times.
What do you do when you happen upon an unattended police cruiser?
If you are the “Darwin Dream Team” of Blake Bills, 24, and Shayna Sykes, 23, the answer is obvious… You steal it!
On Tuesday morning, in Camden, New Jersey, the couple hopped into an unattended police cruiser (actively involved in traffic stop), ran over a police officer, and sped away.
While this wouldn’t come as a big surprise if Bills and Sykes were trying to evade police or avoid apprehension, their decision to steal a cop car is baffling. You see, they weren’t even involved in the traffic stop. It seems that they were just strolling by, saw the vehicle unattended, and simply took it.
Now, I have never stolen a vehicle, so I’m certainly no expert, but, it would seem to me that if I were to steal a vehicle, that I would choose something a little less conspicuous, like, say, the Aries K I had in high school. I use that as an example because I assume it is easy to steal, considering mine was stolen twice. There is also the possibility that you can get away with, at least for a little while, stealing something OTHER than a police cruiser.
Regardless, the couple made their decision and drove from the streets of Camden, across the Ben Franklin Bridge, and onto the streets of Philadelphia, at times clocking speeds of up to 100 mph. It wasn’t long before they were being tailed by Philly police, as well as news helicopters, and ultimately stopped.
Bills was injured and taken into custody, but here’s the crazy part…
Yes, THIS is the crazy part.
During the commotion, Sykes somehow managed to escape custody and steal another police cruiser.
In the second stolen vehicle, Sykes led police on yet another wild chase. During the pursuit, she nearly struck a pedestrian. She also hit several parked cars and a box truck, drove onto numerous sidewalks, and narrowly missed a handful of utility poles before coming to a stop. At that point, Sykes exited the vehicle and attempted to run away on foot, but was quickly apprehended.
Now, you’re probably thinking the same thing I was when I first read about these two…
WHO would steal, not one, but, TWO cop cars? Were they on drugs or something?
Funny you should ask.
This is your mugshot on drugs.
Philadelphia police say that drug use may have played a role in the incident involving these Bonnie and Clyde wannabes who, together, are the parents of a seven-month-old daughter. They currently face charges that include resisting arrest, DUI, and risking catastrophe.
More charges are pending, however, because police now suspect that this incident may have marked the end of a longer crime spree.
Bills and Sykes may have encountered police on Sunday, when an officer stopped a car occupied by a couple suspected of purchasing drugs. After a chase ensued, the couple managed to elude the authorities. Police suspect that the couple may have been involved in an attempted carjacking as well. Their spree, police say, started on Friday, when the couple borrowed Sykes’s grandmother’s car and failed to return it.
I still maintain that they could’ve gotten away with it if they hadn’t stolen the police car, but stupidity and drug addiction will always get you in the end.
Andrea
03/08/2013
Bills and Sykes? like Bill Sykes? from Oliver Twist? oh be still my literary nerd heart.
I really want to know why they stole the first car. was it like a bucket list item? because I could totally see that as valid.