RFP Staff
♦ Sometimes in life you just feel powerless. Such was the case early Tuesday morning in Salisbury, N.C. while Terence Phifer waited for the Citgo Convenience store cashier to ring up him up. Hearing running footsteps in the parking lot behind him, Phifer turned to see two men slip into his 2007 Chevvy Impala and quickly do an El Fado into West Innes. The car thief duo was dropped off at the Citgo by a Chevvy Lumina.
In shock, Phifer recalled his keys were left in the ignition, risky business in Salisbury well known for its legion of car thieves and vehicle breaking and entry specialists. The Bury is a virtual “Area 51″ for unattended vehicles. Cars are regularly targeted by car thieves looking for “rides”, scrap car parts, the cheap thrill of vandalism, or simply to locate quickly to another part of town without the impediment of cab or bus fares. Such is life in the “Dodge City” of Rowan County. Armies of habitual criminals, specializing in motor mayhem, are checking out gas stations and supermarket parking lots with great regularity. Even buses disappear into the Bury’s criminal vortex.
Never leave your car unattended for long and hang onto those car keys or the next time you see your vehicle it may be smiling at you on cinder blocks or have its roof chopped down to become a low rider chariot or “pimped out ride”.
No such luck for Mr. Phifer. Sadly the police informed him two hours later the State Highway Patrol found the Chevvy Impala badly damaged and abandoned under a I-85 underpass in Jamestown, N.C. Hopefully the victim has better luck with his insurance adjuster.
“You left your car keys in what? In Salisbury?”
If anyone knows anything about the demise of the Chevvy Impala please call Salisbury-Rowan Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245. And don’t leave your motor running by the phone booth!
