Crime Time

Car thief left self portrait inside stolen vehicle, police say

Police in the Houston area are looking for a car theft suspect.

They know what he looks like because they said he left his cell phone behind in a crashed stolen car that had a self portrait on it. Police said the man attacked the car's owner when it was stolen. They showed the photo to the owner and he said it's of the car thief.

Check out the story and see if you recognize the guy.

-- Lance Murray

As family grieves in church, man steals their hearse

Sheriff's officials in West Park, Fla., say an 18-year-old man turned one family's grief into his joyride.

Johnny Silfrain is accused of stealing a hearse outside a church where a funeral service was taking place. He even drove to his house to find out if relatives wanted to take a ride in the hearse with him.

Deputies eventually spied the hearse and gave chase.

Read here to find out what happened to Silfrain and where he drove the hearse after his run-in with the law.

-- Lance Murray

Is there a problem ossifer? You say I stole this car?

I know ignorance is no excuse under the law and I'm just as sure a booze-induced lack of memory isn't either.

So that's why Charles J. Schultz of Fairbanks, Alaska, is facing charges of auto theft, felony driving under the influence and misdemeanor drug misconduct after he left a gentleman's club so blitzed and got in the wrong car and drove away.

He owns a Chevy Cavalier, but he left driving someone else's Ford Escort that was then reported stolen.

A police officer later stopped the Escort and Schultz professed being stunned that he was in the wrong car and that he had no memory of taking it. By the way his blood alcohol level was .166, more than twice the legal limit. I'm still wondering how he got the keys.

-- Lance Murray

Who has the bishop's crown?

The Greek Orthodox Church wants its crown back. Some one broke into a car parked outside Picolo Mondo restaurant in north Arlington on Friday evening and took a bag that contained a golden crown that belonged to Metropolitan Isaiah, bishop of the Northwest Region of the Greek Orthodox Archdioceses of America. It was the first gift given to him as a bishop more than two decades ago. Church officials are to announce reward for info about the theft during a 3 p.m. news conference today at Arlington police headquarters. Two priests are scheduled to be there. If you know who has the crown, call Arlington police at 817-459-6486 or call Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477. You could collect $1,000.Check www.star-telegram.com for more details.

- Kristin Sullivan

Video: Watch a guy steal a car in front of police

Sure, we've all scene security camera video of crimes in progress, but how about news footage of an actual crime committed in front of a TV crew, the victim and a police officer?

Here's a video from TV station WTVD in the Raleigh-Durham area of a brazen car thief stealing a car Monday as a television crew filmed a police officer interviewing a witness during the aftermath of a stabbing in Raleigh.

You're not going to believe how bold this guy is. By the way, police captured him on Tuesday and recovered the woman's car.

-- Lance Murray