It is not your typical theft. State police said a Lawrence County man stole a car boot — from his own car.
The investigation began a year ago, when police got a call from Slippery Rock Towing in Slippery Rock Township. A business representative on Sept. 16, 2017, showed a trooper a tow bill for a BMW sedan that had been illegally parked.
An employee had earlier placed a yellow boot on the car. A boot is a metal device that immobilizes a vehicle by locking its wheel with a clamp.
But when workers later returned to tow the car, the car — and the $750 boot — were gone, according to court documents.
Investigators eventually identified Tyler B. Schlobohm, 24, of Volant as the suspected thief. But police said that despite repeated attempts they were unable to find the car or speak to Schlobohm.
On Wednesday, police charged him with a first-degree misdemeanor count of theft and a summary count of criminal mischief.
Schlobohm’s preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 31 at the office of District Judge Bill O’Donnell in Slippery Rock.
