- Boulder police arrested a woman after she allegedly failed to steal a truck because of her inability to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission
- After failing to make off with the truck, police claim she exited it, and it rolled into a fire hydrant
- The woman has been charged with felony second-degree motor vehicle theft
Enthusiasts often wax poetic about the “joys” of a manual transmission, touting it as the ultimate test of driving skill. But let’s face it, the real benefit of mastering the third pedal is a bit more… lurid.
Sure, there’s the ever-present zombie apocalypse threat (because, clearly, automatics seize up in the wasteland). But a more down-to-earth perk, as evidenced by a recent incident in Colorado, is that a stick shift can be your best friend when it comes to thwarting thieves.
Read: Man Steals Truck With 10 New Corvettes Right After Prison Release
The Boulder Police Department recently shared a story that highlights both the benefits of learning to drive stick and the advantage of owning a vehicle with a manual transmission. The tale begins with officers receiving a call about a truck that had crashed into a fire hydrant on Friday, May 3.
After arriving at the scene and speaking to witnesses, police arrested a suspect who had just been released from jail after being accused of stealing a car the day before. Police claim that about a half-mile down the road, the woman came across a truck and, upon looking inside, found the keys.
Seeing an easy opportunity, she allegedly got in and drove off, but quickly realized the heist wouldn’t be so simple. Police say the woman couldn’t figure out how to drive the vehicle due to its manual gearbox. She got out, presumably left it in neutral, and the truck rolled into the hydrant.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, and the truck was returned to its rightful owner. Police didn’t say how much damage the vehicle suffered, and it’s not clear how happy the owner’s insurer will be to hear that the keys were left inside.
The woman has been charged with felony second-degree motor vehicle theft under enhanced circumstances, careless driving, driving without a valid license, and duty upon striking an unattended vehicle or other property.