An alleged car thief, Michael Chapman, 54, was arrested Wednesday morning after stopping to ask for directions in Hopedale, about 130 miles east of Columbus near the West Virginia state line.
It seems that Chapman couldn’t resist a great opportunity when it presented itself. You see, early that Wednesday morning, Norma Harris has started her car and then went back inside the house while her car warmed up.
Chapman took the car and drove east for three miles, then pulled off state Route 151 needing directions to a nearby town. He stopped randomly at the home of Thomas Eltringham, whom, as it turns out, happens to be the father of one Norma Harris. As Chapman drove off after speaking with the home owner, Eltringham called his daughter, fearing that the gold 2001 Buick LeSabre might have been hers.
The police were then called and given the approximate whereabouts of the accused car thief. Police spotted the car about 25 miles away near SmithField and chased it. The driver pulled into a driveway, got out and ran away. Chapman was found hiding behind an auto sales office and arrested.
Chapman, was being held Thursday at the Jefferson County Justice Center on charges of car theft, drunken driving and driving without a license. Chapman was released from prison in June after serving time for a 1992 burglary, according to the Steubenville Police Department.
How’s that for you? Instant Karma!