Drunk man arrested after stealing police car in Hokkaido

Friday 14th August, 08:15 AM JST

News reports

SAPPORO —

A 30-year-old man was arrested for theft on Thursday morning, accused of stealing a police car while the officers were conducting random alcohol breath tests.

Yasuki Mori, an unemployed resident of Sapporo, is accused of getting in the police wagon and driving off just after 4.30 a.m. The vehicle was unlocked and the engine left running to power the electric sign and other lighting set up to caution drivers to slow down for a possible breath test.

Officers in another car caught up Mori with about five minutes later, one kilometer away from the scene. He was arrested for theft and police are pursuing a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Mori told police he had been drinking at a bar and that he didn’t want to walk all the way home, about 7 kilometers away.

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Latest 15 of 31 Total Comments Show All

Patrick Smash at 12:38 PM JST - 14th August

This chap must have fancied free room and board.
Patrick Smash at 12:40 PM JST - 14th August

I can't think of anything with more cred points than nicking a police car. This is superb.
IfeelImust at 12:54 PM JST - 14th August

A life long fantacy to steal a police car, wah hoo, wah hoo! Need to get very pissed first though. ONE DAY!
bcbrownboy at 06:08 PM JST - 14th August

Thanks for making my day a little brighter. Next time maybe the j-cops will be a little brighter.
Jbizzle at 06:46 PM JST - 14th August

Meanringo...good point! Technically they collared a DUI! LOL good for them!
intomioka at 07:00 PM JST - 14th August

I would be bragging about that for the rest of my life.
benhur at 07:14 PM JST - 14th August

hahha... thanks for the idea! ;-)
jonobugs at 09:29 PM JST - 14th August

It would be interesting to know if someone would get more punishment or less if they used the same excuse but weren't under the influence.
bcbrownboy at 07:17 AM JST - 15th August

This should really be in the entertainment section.
MeanRingo at 02:54 PM JST - 15th August

Like the Breus Blothels!
electric2004 at 10:37 PM JST - 15th August

If the police had just stopped the engine and taken out the key, nothing could have happened. Also this is better for the environment (idling stop campaign). However, if the car battery is too weak (unlike Prius), after some time, one has to be careful that there is still enough charge to restart the engine.
BurakuminDes at 12:42 AM JST - 16th August

What a champion! This man has guaranteed free drinks in his local bars for the rest of his life...LEGEND!
mnemosyne23 at 10:22 PM JST - 17th August

...

The mind boggles.

Okay... I get that they were using the car to power the sign and lights. I'm going to go on the record right here as saying, isn't that a fairly silly way to generate power? Could't they bring a generator, or use something else to create the light? Isn't that unnecessary wear on the car's engine, not to mention a waste of gas and unwarranted contribution to greenhouse emissions?

A clear indicator of a drunk's persepective: rather than asking the police to help him home by calling a taxi, he STEALS A POLICE CAR. Presumably he would have had to unhook some cables or other power cords to do it, too, which just speaks to how distracted the police must have been. Wow. Just WOW.
Sarge at 10:56 PM JST - 17th August

I'll bet Mori doesn't have a gold driver's license.
Nwabiafra1 at 06:12 PM JST - 18th August

As funny as it get, lets see whats the J-Police is going to do with this HOME-BOY.