Saturday, January 30, 2010

The Criminal's Handbook, Tip #56: The Getaway Vehicle

OK, you just pulled off the heist of a lifetime--now what? How about GETTING AWAY, GENIUS? All the loot in the world won't help you if you wind up in the clink. The word to remember is "hustle." Get moving and don't stop until you reach the ratty little apartment you call home.

There are many different theories about the proper getaway vehicle. Cars are a perennial favorite. Not hard to see why--fast, inconspicuous, plenty of trunk space for the cash. Trucks? Though some experts (Swarbrick, Livengood et al., 2001) have argued a truck one-ups the car in every significant category, many top-notch burglars are still a little hesitant. Sure, you can pile a ton of stuff in the back of a truck. But a pickup zipping down the freeway with a flatbed full of stolen art is kind of a tip-off.

There are some definite no-nos when it comes to picking a getaway vehicle

No planes! It's hard to park a Lear jet across from a bank.
No tanks! Hard to stop, easy to follow. Don't do it.
No unicycles! You might as well wear a red nose during the heist.
And most of all: no pedal boats!

No comments: