Minnesota Car Thief Steals Running Car . . . Then Calls Owner To Help In Restarting It

Edward Wilson, 37, was reportedly in a position most drivers loathe.   He was standing in the apartment complex in Sartell, Minnesota with the temperature at -9 degrees Fahrenheit but could not start the car. According to police, the problem is that he stole a car that was already running and could not re-start it.  His solution?  He allegedly contacted the victim to ask for her help in starting her stolen car.

The victim says that she was shopping at Walmart and auto-started her Jeep Grand Cherokee so it would be warm once she got to the parking lot.   Police say that a videotape shows Wilson climbing into the SUV and driving off  around 8:30 p.m. that night.

Two hours later, the victim received a call from a woman who said that a man was asking her questions about the Jeep. Wilson then got on the phone and said that he was employed at an auto glass repair company. Wilson told her that he fixed her car — and that he’d return it to her if she could re-start it for him.  He then gave the victim an address in Isle, MN for OnStar to use to auto start  the car.  She gave the address to police in Isle.  Police then showed up and found the car with Wilson.

Wilson has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, KNSI reports, with bond set at $25,000.