Man tries to steal gas, leaves with employee

Fri, Jun 20, 2008    to del.icio.us

SPRING LAKE — Jessica Sudy didn't want a man driving a white Chevrolet Impala to get away with stealing another tank of gas — and part of her monthly bonus.

The 4-foot-9-inch Spring Lake Wesco gas station cashier took matters into her own hands Wednesday morning when she hopped into the passenger seat of man's car, hoping that would stop him from leaving.

He took off anyway — driving south out of the parking lot at 502 W. Savidge in Spring Lake onto Cutler Street and stopping a block away at Exchange Street, according to Spring Lake/Ferrysburg Police Department.

"I just thought if I got in the car that would stop him," she said. "Apparently he really wanted to get away."

Sudy got out of the car at the corner, while another Wesco employee called police.

Sudy first recognized the Impala driver, a 22-year-old Fruitport man, because she said he had left Wesco without paying for gas on Monday and last Friday.

At around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, she saw him pull up again. She walked around the gas station counter to write down his license plate number.

The suspect saw Sudy taking down his information. According to police, the suspect entered the Wesco store after pumping $31.29 in gas and proceeded to the beverage cooler where he picked out an energy drink.

As the man approached the counter, he set down the energy drink, grabbed the slip of paper out of Sudy's hands and ran out the store's north exit, police said.

At that point, Sudy said she stopped thinking clearly. She followed the man out to his car and jumped inside.

Even after the driver took off with her, Sudy still attempted to get his driver's license number.

"I wanted to get all the information I could and get out of the car," she said.

The suspect told Sudy — and later police — that he forgot his wallet and could not pay.

Police tracked the suspect through the vehicle's registration. The vehicle is owned by his mother, who told police her son had borrowed the car.

Wesco managers said they wanted to pursue charges, and police planned to charge the man with larceny and driving with a suspended license. Charges are pending with the county prosecutor.

Sudy said after getting lectures from her manager, police and her mother, she knows the situation should have been handled differently.

"My mom let in to me, but the police officer was worse though, because he was tall and intimidating," she said.

Along with rising price of fuel, Sudy said people are more tempted to drive away without paying for gas. A monthly employee bonus is tied to how much money the gas station loses on stolen goods, she said.

The 21-year-old Grand Haven High School graduate said her bonus has been as much as $100, but is typically around $40 a month.