«Bruce Willis could never have done this», says local police officer in Kristiansand, Jan Nesland.
Kristiansand is one of the larger cities in Norway, with almost 90,000 inhabitants, situated in the southern part of the country.
On January 20th, a Norwegian 25 year old car owner woke up in the middle of the night when a thief started his car. In minus 17 degrees Celsius, and in his underwear, the man ran out and jumped on top of the car.
High-speed chase
The thief drove off, but the car owner clung onto the roof in 56 mph. During the high-speed chase, he managed to break the back window with his knee.
«After breaking the window, he climbed into the car yelling. Then he grabbed the thief, and forced him to stop. The thief tried to flee, but the car owner ran after him and held him until the police arrived», police officer Jan Nesland says.
After his release from hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries from breaking the window, the car owner says to the local newspaper Faedrelandsvennen:
When I realized that he wouldn't stop, there was only one thing to do. Smash the window, climb into the car and stop him.
«I didn't have time to think when I was running after the thief in my car. I grabbed the car and held on to it on pure reflex. Then he drove so fast that I didn't dare to let go. The speed of the car was at least 56 miles per hour. When I realized that he wouldn't stop, there was only one thing to do. Smash the window, climb into the car and stop him.»
Watch video:
Freezing cold
«In only your underwear, in 56 mph, that must have been freezing cold?»
«Yes, it was cold. I got frostbite in two of my toes. I also had to be stitched up in the hospital»
«It was a matter of life and death?»
«Yes it was. When lying on the car, I was thinking about my girlfriend and my parents. There was no other way but to smash the window.»The car owner is working as a carpenter. When asked if he now considers a career as an action hero, he replies with a grin.
«Not yet».
Check out our live webcam on Varoddbroa, where the car thief was stopped.
The value of the car: 492 US dollars
The car was an older Volkswagen Passat, with an estimated value of 5000 Norwegian kroner (492 US dollars).
«That car wasn’t worth much, so I don’t believe it was the value of the car, the car owner was defending. It was more of a principle», local police officer Nesland says an adds:
«I have never experienced anything like this, not even in movies. If you manage to hang onto to the top of a car, just in your underwear, in minus 17 degrees, in high speed, that’s just crazy».For the record, Norwegian police does not recommend cathching thieves this way.
Norwegian versions of the article:
- Biltyven ble nok litt redd da jeg knuste ruta og kom inn i bilen