Ohio car theft suspect foiled by quick-thinking forklift driver who holds him 20 feet in the air until police arrive
- An attempted car thief was quickly apprehended by an experienced forklift driver, who managed to detain the suspect, who was still in the vehicle, at a height of six meters.
- Alexander Funk, 26, was held in the SUV, balancing on a forklift until Akron, Ohio police arrested him to arrest him at a local scrap yard
- According to the junkyard staff, this was the third time Funk tried to steal from the yard, but this time they were determined to prevent his escape.
A would-be car thief in Ohio was quickly apprehended by a nimble forklift driver who managed to hold the suspect, who was still in the vehicle, 20 feet in the air while balancing on the end of the truck until police arrived.
The bizarre scene was captured on bodycam video by Akron police, who were called to the scrap yard where the thief attempted to steal a black SUV.
The forklift driver was informed of the ongoing theft by his colleagues and he rushed to the scene of the junkyard.
Incredibly, the skilled driver managed to balance the SUV on the end of the forklift, lifting the car high into the air until police arrived on the scene.
‘What is your husband’s name?’ you hear one of the officers ask.
An attempted car thief was quickly apprehended by an experienced forklift driver, who managed to hold the suspect, who was still in the vehicle, six meters in the air.
Alexander Funk, 26, was held in the SUV, balancing on a forklift until Akron, Ohio police arrested him to arrest him at a local scrap yard
“That’s none of your business, man,” the suspect replies, even though he is already in handcuffs.
The suspect, later identified as 26-year-old Alexander Funk, told police he was running from someone.
Junkyard staff say it’s the third time Funk has tried to steal from the yard – and this time they were determined not to let him escape.
An officer then spoke with employees of the company, Arlington Auto Wrecking.
The man who helped perform the delicate maneuver on the loader explained, “This car is bouncing and getting ready to go off the forklift.
“So he’s still in the car, about twenty feet in the air, in the loader,” the worker said.
The SUV driver managed to keep the car in the air until police arrived to deal with the suspect
According to the junkyard staff, this was the third time Funk tried to steal from the yard, but this time they were determined to prevent his escape.
When the car was back on solid ground, the suspect inside was immediately arrested
This is believed to be Funk’s third time entering the junkyard in Akron, Ohio
Bodycam footage later shows the police officer who filmed the footage telling his colleagues about the unusual arrest, appearing rather amused
“We have a lot of problems here with people stealing stuff and stuff and we have a guy who passed out or crashed in one of our vehicles in our yard and I picked up the vehicle with the loader and he’s probably six feet deep in the air now and I refuse to drop this thing to let him out and run,” another worker shared Cleveland19.
“I mean, we’ve had so many problems here with theft and catalytic converters and just fires and stuff.”
Bodycam footage later shows the police officer who filmed the footage telling his colleagues about the unusual arrest.
“He broke into a car in the junkyard, and before he could get out, he’s done it before. They came like a forklift and they had him, I’m not kidding, twenty feet off the ground, so when we got there he was taken straight into custody,” the officer said as his fellow officers laughed.
Funk has been charged with criminal trespass and possession of criminal instruments.