Asleep in Front Seat

Car-burglary Suspect Asleep in Front Seat

BEAUMONT -- Sleeping on the job can be hazardous for night workers, especially burglars.

Police said an officer handcuffed William Bernard Jones, 20, as he snoozed soundly in the front seat of a car on the south side of Beaumont on Tuesday morning. It wasn't his car. The owner of the car had called police after she headed to work and found somebody sleeping in the driver's seat.

A report said Jones' first words after being handcuffed and waking up were, "It wasn't me," said police spokeswoman Carman Apple.

Police found evidence nearby indicating that someone had earlier tried to steal two other vehicles, only to have them both break down. Radios were removed from both.

The radios were found tied to a bicycle apparently taken from a nearby garage. A battery was removed from yet another vehicle, apparently in an attempt to start one of the others.

Police also think Jones tried to siphon gasoline from a vehicle and managed to spill gas all over himself.

After he was arrested police learned there were three outstanding burglary warrants on Jones. He is being held in the Jefferson County Jail. Police are planning to add several new charges to the list.

"We're thinking of sending this to that TV show, America's Dumbest Criminals," Apple said.

Source: Houston Chronicle (C)