Police seizing a Mercedes-Benz from two burglary suspects after receiving a resident’s tip in Irvine, California, doesn’t sound surprising (unfortunately), what does though, are the MI5-level gadgets they used and which would make Q proud, including a push-button rotating license plate.
“The suspect vehicle was something out of @007 movie [sic],” the Irvine Police Department said. “Officers discovered a device that would flip the vehicle’s license plate with the push of a button.”
In addition to that colorful description, the department also posted a short clip of the device. In the video, you can see the bottom of the license plate frame moving away from the car as it flips.
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Image Irvine PD
The device, presumably used to change the plate if the car is being looked for by the police, is somewhat undercut by the fact that the Mercedes has rather distinctive wheels, but remains a nifty little piece of tech. Indeed, two suspects were caught because a resident “recognized a suspicious vehicle” that they thought might have been involved in previous vehicle burglaries and called the police.
In addition to the plate, the police also report that the car was fitted with a gas siphoning device that transferred fuel directly into the car’s gas tank from another vehicle. Apparently, gas prices are so high that even burglars are feeling the bite…especially in California where the average approached the $6.1 a gallon mark today.
In addition, the C-Class also reportedly had burglary tools within it, stolen property, and evidence of identity theft. Two suspects from Garden Grove were arrested and booked on charges of vehicle burglary, vehicle theft, identity theft, possession of stolen property, and possession of burglary tools.
I suppose that goes to show that you really can be too clever for your own good and that it’s better to be inconspicuous, a lesson James Bond no doubt would have learned in real life, too.
Image Irvine PD