Thief Loses Gun, is Shot at, After Trying to Rob a Man Napping in a Car, Cops Say

The thief who reportedly tried to rob a man taking a nap in his car probably thought he was in for an easy theft.

Belleville police say things didn’t go as he likely planned.

The erstwhile thief reportedly approached the would-be victim while was resting in his car parked on Montgomery Street during his lunch break at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11. Police said the car owner jolted awake to the sound of a gun banging on the glass and yelling “where’s the money, I’ll shoot you.”

Shortly after the threat, the man in the car was reportedly able to wrest the gun, a .38 revolver, from the attempting robber. When the thief reportedly pulled out a knife, the man in the car fired off two shots with the gun.

Police do not know if the shots hit the thief, who reportedly escaped in a white Honda Accord. 

The driver sustained cuts to his lips and hands in the struggle. Police said the incident was an open investigation.