KTRV Fox 12 Alleged Car Thief Caught
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Boise, Idaho -- According to Boise Police, one of the city's most sought after car thieves is now behind bars.
Police are using his method for car theft as a means of teaching others the importance of locking up.
"He's responsible for at least five stolen vehicles," said Boise Police detective Sgt. Randy Buzzini.
Buzzini says officers have connected Christopher Teater to a variety of car thefts going back to mid August.
He says thefts involving a motorcycle, SUVs and small cars can all be traced back to Teater.
It's not necessarily a shocking crime, but what is a little unnerving is how the thefts occurred.
"This guy would just walk along and it wouldn't take him long to find an unlocked vehicle with the keys in it," Buzzini said.
According to him, far too many cars are being left unlocked with the keys inside, and he says people like Teater know it.
"One of the cars back in August belonged to a couple that had just gotten married and had all their wedding presents in it -- their camping gear to go on their honeymoon," said Buzzini.
And sadly stories like that are not uncommon. Officers from every agency have a variety of similar stories to tell.
"I remember one morning, it's been a couple years ago, I counted six over the radio -- six. And they were all in the driveway running," added Deputy Michael Vickers, Ada County Sheriff's Office.
Vickers is expecting more of these accounts as winter sets in as more and more people are warming up their cars in the cold morning hours are prime targets for car thieves.
And when crimes like these are reported, Vickers says he can never help being a little surprised.
"When I show up I'm probably not going to say anything, but what I'm thinking is, 'you did what?' " said Vickers.
So his advice, just don't do it. Not to mention that it is illegal to leave you're car running while unattended.
And besides, once the car is gone, it may be gone for good. Car thieves don't often keep them around for long.
Buzzini says that was true in Teater's case, even though the vehicles were retrieved, he was looking to unload them in a hurry.
"A lot of the cars he was selling, and selling them to people that he knew, trying to get money. We believe he's involved in the drug trade also -- trying to trade them for drugs," Buzzini said.
So to insure this crime doesn't happen to you, Buzzini says the lesson is simple.
"You've got to secure the vehicle," said Buzzini.
Even though Teater has been charged with four counts of grand theft, Buzzini says there are likely others that police have yet to discover. So there may be additional charges added to the list in the coming days.
